SEN. Risa Hontiveros yesterday expressed fears that critics of the administration will suffer the same fate as former Anakbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello in a bid to silence them.
Bello was arrested by Quezon City cops at his residence in Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City at around 5 p.m. last Monday over cyber libel cases filed by a media officer of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Bello was released from a facility of the Quezon City Police District at around 5:15 p.m. last Tuesday after posting bail.
Hontiveros said pressing charges against critics of the government to silence them has been a practice of the Duterte administration and fears this will happen again under the administration of President Marcos Jr.
“Filing cyber libel charges against critics has been the practice of the past administration to silence them and suppress freedom of expression,” Hontiveros said during a press conference held by Bello yesterday.
“Many have been left asking if we will also experience this in the next six years? That whoever opposes (the administration) will be jailed? That charges are always ready and a speedy process awaits those who are against the administration?” she added.
Hontiveros, the only senator who won under the opposition in the last May polls, said she will not be cowed and will continue to express her sentiments against the administration.
“To Walden and to my colleagues, you can depend on me that I will make my voice counted. We will not be silenced. We are just beginning. Let us continue the fight,” she added.
