JE C.C.
The controversial lawyer drew flak online for accusing a Rappler reporter of being biased over her Robredo tweets.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio is back under the spotlight, only this time, he’s not serving as a legal counsel to or defending a former-President charged with plunder or graft cases.
He’s not making noise again allegedly engaging in an illicit affair with one of his celebrity clients.
Topacio recently accused Rappler reporter, Mara Cepeda, of being biased, after noticing that the reporter’s tweets were largely about Vice President and Presidentiable Leni Robredo.
In a tweet, the lawyer said, “Grabe, hindi talaga biased si @maracepeda .Hindi sunod-sunod ang tweets niya tungkol kay Leni. IPAGBUNYI!“
https://twitter.com/YesYesYo13/status/1495792712796508161
The sarcastic tweet also included attached screenshots of Cepeda’s tweets and retweets about Robredo.
However, Rappler, immediately disproved Topacio’s claim by casually informing the lawyer that Cepeda is assigned to cover Robredo’s campaign, and thus, there is nothing irregular in the reporter tweeting mostly about Robredo.
“Mr. Topacio, Mara Cepeda is a beat reporter covering the Robredo campaign. Of course, she will tweet about the subject assigned to her, not someone else.” Rappler’s reply reads.
Mr. Topacio, Mara Cepeda is a beat reporter covering the Robredo campaign. Of course she will tweet about the subject assigned to her, not someone else. 👀 https://t.co/Ef9RrtJWe6
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) February 22, 2022
Netizens are quick to react to both Topacio’s tweet and Rappler’s reply tweet, with some ridiculing the lawyer’s thoughtless tweet and apparent lack of knowledge about what beat reporting is and which reporter is assigned to his Presidential bet.
A beat reporter is someone who is assigned to cover particular events, areas, or subjects. Rappler reporter Lian Buan is the one assigned to cover Bongbong Marcos’s presidential campaign, which Topacio is part of.
“The fact that rappler had to explain what beat reporting is. HAHAHAHAHAHA.” noted t.ocino.
The fact that rappler had to explain what beat reporting is. HAHAHAHAHAHA.
— t.ocin.o (@nicoquejano) February 22, 2022
Not OK Taecyon, similarly’ said “Today, Topacio learned what a beat reporter is”
Today, Topacio learned what a beat reporter is https://t.co/6HTkJ7aMYI
— Not OK Taecyeon (@njytolentino) February 22, 2022
KapusoBTS, on the other hand, tweeted “Ayaw kasi nilang papasukin yung rappler reporter na assigned sa kanila, ngayon nagrereklamo sila ng bias. Ewan ko kung pavictim o tanga. Baka both…” hinting at the recent incidents where a Rappler reporter was not allowed to cover a BBM event.
https://twitter.com/BtsKapuso/status/1496028636629336067
Twitter user, Cris Aron John, meanwhile asked who is assigned to cover Marcos.
He said in a tweet “@rapplerdotcom – and who is for BBM? And does BBM receive the same media mileage?” to which reporter Lian Buan responded with “I cover the Marcos campaign and I report everything I can – with context- no matter how cut off we are from their advisories, and despite me being excluded from their mailing list.”
@rapplerdotcom – and who is for BBM? And does BBM receive the same media mileage? https://t.co/EKnwRGhA5E
— Cris Aron John (@CrisAronJohn1) February 22, 2022
Atty. Topacio is yet to directly respond to Rappler’s tweet.
