“One of the top ten most outstanding universities in Philippines, Far Eastern University”
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago at the FEU Auditorium
January 27, 2011
Three-term Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago’s talk at the Far Eastern University Thursday, centered on youth empowerment through new media. Santiago did not appear at the Senate public hearing that day. “Sinabi ko sa sarili ko, aabsent ako sa Senado pero di sa pagpunta sa FEU, the Senator remarked.
“When someone says, Ang Ganda mo! I say, Sana ikaw din.” “Hindi ko sinasabing maganda ako, ang sinasabi ko panget ka” – Senator Santiago started her talk with pick-up lines that drew laughter around the fabled auditorium. Over a thousand audience attended the symposium including students, professors, school officials and even the media. The event was sponsored by the FEU College Y Club, the Political Science – International Studies Society and the Institute of Arts and Sciences Student Council.
PINOY WIKILEAKS
Senator Santiago pushed for a Philippine version of WikiLeaks, purposively to shame corrupt public officials. “In social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, you have the opportunity to express your opinion in fighting the culture of corruption in our society.” Santiago said that since the youth are more knowledgeable about computers and the internet, creating a website similar to WikiLeaks is one way of being proactive in helping the government.
WikiLeaks is a nonprofit media organization whose goal is “to bring important news and information to the public.” It provides a new, secure, and anonymous way, by means of its so-called electronic drop box, so that sources could leak information to its journalists, it is “principled leaking”. It has caused an international uproar though as it has released not only confidential messages about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also about the conduct of American diplomacy around the world. It has succeeded in bringing to light secret information about governments and corporations.“I urge you as FEU students to study the case of WikiLeaks, winner of the 2009 New Media Award for human rights reporting, from Amnesty International,” Santiago said.
She added that “university students can use the internet for conducting investigative journalism. You can access anonymous sources of information. You should provide a high security anonymous dropbox to provide maximum protection to your sources.”
For those really interested would-be leakers, Santiago offered more tips.
“You should operate a number of supporters across our archipelago. Do not keep logs, so that the logs cannot be seized. Provide instructions on how to submit materials to you, via net cafes, wireless hot spots, and even the post office. This way, if your Wiki is infiltrated by an external agency, your sources cannot be traced,” she said.
The senator said that under Philippine criminal law, the main liability for internet whistleblowers is a charge of espionage. “However, the Espionage Law was intended to target those who seek to disclose classified information to aid a foreign government. But this provision might not apply against an actor who discloses classified information for other reasons, such as to name and shame crooks in a corrupt government agency,” she explained. “I believe that if Congress wants to shut down your Wiki site, Congress will have to draft a new law, more explicitly criminalizing the sources of leaks of classified information.”
The senator however clarified that she is not advocating computer hacking, but more publishing on the internet to improve transparency in the government. A US landmark case ruled that only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government. “Ladies and gentlemen of FEU – be vigilant against corruption! For vigilance is the price of freedom from corruption.”, Santiago finally concluded.
as she wore a “green and gold” semi-oriental executive terno.
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