Blogger Sarah Pope demands apology from Senator Sotto
Maui A. Hermitanio
Saturday, 18 August 2012
US-based blogger Sarah Pope demanded an apology from Senator Vicente Sotto III who copied parts of her blog without attribution for his Turno en Contra speech on the controversial Reproductive Health Bill last week.
In a Skype interview with Radyo Inquirer, Pope said, “None of this would have happened if he [Sotto] has the guts, he must be very spineless, to not be able to be man enough to just say ‘I’m sorry.’
“He should take responsibility for his staff as any leader would,†Pope further said.
Sotto’s Chief of Staff Atty. Hector Villacorta admitted that their staff indeed copied parts of Pope’s blog, Healthy Home Economist, but found nothing wrong with what they did and said that ‘blogs are meant to be shared.’
Villacorta posted a comment on Pope’s blog: "I understand you felt slighted that your blog was not attributed to you which became part of the speech of the senator."
"Let me say that after asking my staff, indeed your blog was used but only in quoting also from the same book of Dr. Campbell-Mcbride."
Sotto earlier denied plagiarizing Pope and earned the ire of bloggers with his comment, "why should I quote a blogger? Blogger lang siya."
In a post on her Facebook page, Pope said, "Nice touch Senator. You almost had me convinced you were a nice guy with the tears and all. Many of your citizenry have emailed me assuring me that it was a put on, and I'm starting to think they are right."
"A thief is a thief, Mr. Senator. Denying it doesn't get you off the hook; it just makes you a lying thief," she added.
Pope said she will not sue or take legal actions about the issue.
Filipino bloggers launched an online petition demanding sanction against Sotto.
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