Philippine lawmakers join anti-cyberbullying campaign initiated in S. Korea

Twelve lawmakers from the House of Representatives of the Philippines signed an anti-cyberbullying pledge Wednesday at an event to raise public awareness about malicious comments and hate speech on the internet and social media.

The event was part of the Sunfull Internet Peace Movement, initiated in 2007 in South Korea and led by Min Byoung-chul, a Hanyang University professor who serves as chairman of the Sunfull Foundation.

Rep. Florida Robes, chairperson of the House Committee on People Participation, spearheaded the Sunfull Internet Peace Movement in the Philippines to combat cyberbullying among young people. Robes, the Sunfull Foundation ambassadress in the Philippines, said, “We are committed to protect our youth against all forms of online attacks and harassments.”

Other Philippine lawmakers including Deputy House Speaker Rosemarie Arenas and Rep. Ann Hofer, chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, signed the pledge too.

At the event, which coincided with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the Philippine congressional leaders signed a memorandum of agreement to implement the campaign. Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man also attended the event as an observer.

The Sunfull campaign has received support from lawmakers, teachers, students and civic organizations in Korea. During the past 12 years, 7,000 schools and organizations, and 700,000 people have participated in the Sunfull Internet Peace Movement to spread positive message online and offline through encouraging and supportive language. Currently, 294 of 297 Korean lawmakers, or 99 percent, of the National Assembly, have signed to support the Sunfull Internet Peace Movement.

Korean National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang delivered a congratulatory message and Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, expressed his hope that the Sunfull movement would further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Sunfull Foundation signed a pact with Enderun Colleges to work together to implement the Sunfull campaign in the Philippines. Under the agreement, Korean students representing the foundation will help promote anti-cyberbullying in partnership with Enderun Colleges.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)