Pinoy Ako Blog files complaint vs Thinking Pinoy, Sass Sasot

Paige Occeñola

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Pinoy Ako Blog files complaint vs Thinking Pinoy, Sass Sasot
Jover Laurio of Pinoy Ako Blog is asking for over P2 million in damages



MANILA, Philippines – Blogger Jover Laurio (Pinoy Ako Blog) filed a civil complaint against pro-Duterte bloggers Rey Joseph Nieto (ThinkingPinoy) and Allantroy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, citing violations of the Data Privacy Act and the right to free speech.

In a copy of the complaint obtained by Rappler, Laurio said her outing as the anonymous author behind Pinoy Ako Blog by Nieto and Sasot is a violation of the Data Privacy Act.

In the entry on Thinking Pinoy’s site entitled, “#CocoyGate: Cocoy’s Missing? Hey NBI Cybercrime, here’s another name”, Laurio’s personal information such as her full name, her school, and the user credentials for her blog were publicized.

Laurio’s complaint said she has been at the receiving end of harassment and threats from the supporters of Nieto and Sasot as a result of the doxing. Laurio also said she was forced to take a leave of absence from school and resign from her place of work.

Laurio is asking for over P2 million in damages, broken down into the following:

  • P1 million in moral damages
  • P1 million in exemplary damages
  • P100,000 in nominal damages
  • P50,000 in attorney’s fees

The complaint was filed in Makati City.

Who are the people involved?

Jover Laurio is the woman who used to blog anonymously as Pinoy Ako Blog. Her blog entries consist of fact checks and criticism of the current administration. Her identity was traced after pro-Duterte bloggers looked into the identity of Cocoy Dayao, her webmaster, whom they dubbed as “Cocoygate”.

Named as respondents in the complaint were Rey Joseph Nieto, former Department of Foreign Affairs consultant and blogger behind Thinking Pinoy, and Allantroy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, who runs her Facebook page “For the Motherland”. Both social media personalities are staunch defenders of President Rodrigo Duterte and have been known for their controversial posts.

Why is Laurio suing?

Laurio said it’s about time to fight back. “It is time to push back. ‘Pag ang pagkatao mo na ang tinapakan, kailangan nang lumaban.” (It is time to push back. When your character is being attacked, you need to fight.)

Laurio has been at the receiving end of backlash from Duterte supporters after her identity was revealed to the public.

Then DSWD assistant secretary Lorraine Badoy posted photos of her in a swimsuit, making fun of her appearance. The post, criticized by many netizens as distasteful, was taken down. (READ: ‘Low blow’: Netizens chide DSWD official for calling blogger ‘ugly’)

In an interview with Rappler when she came forward, Laurio said she was forced to come out to protect her and her family’s security:

Hindi ko inexpect na ganito ‘yung magiging sitwasyon na madadamay pati ‘yung security ko at security ng family ko. I could have come out na in a normal way, na hindi ganito na kailangan ko lumabas to protect myself and my family.”

(I did not expect this situation where my and my family’s security would be compromised. I could have come out in a normal way, not like this where I need to come forward to protect myself and my family.)

In the same interview, she also revealed that she has been the subject of attacks and threats online such as Pag nakasalubong kita, patay ka sa ‘kin.” (If I run into you, you’re dead.)

Laurio has also sued “political + social commentator” Franco Mabanta for 4 counts of libel over posts disparaging her appearance and accusing her of being funded by the Liberal Party. (READ:
Pinoy Ako Blog’s Jover Laurio sues Franco Mabanta for libel) – Rappler.com

READ:
What you need to know about #Cocoygate
Who’s behind Pinoy Ako Blog?
Pinoy Ako Blog: ‘Mahirap ipikit ang mata mo at magbingi-bingihan’

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