Twittering Government Officials Written by Ignatius Oyama

The social networking sites have become so intertwined with the lives of millions of people that what were conceptualized to be a form of communication between friends on the Web has sometimes become a field where people can wage war.

And what once were nondescript friends and enemies shooting back and forth has now included showbiz celebrities and government functionaries washing their dirty laundry in the cyber world. We are now used to showbiz personalities airing out their opinions but lately government officials have joined the fray. Take for instance Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte and Zambales Congresswoman Mitos Magsaysay engaging in a Twitter war concerning statements by Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, this Internet-crazy country’s former president.

Macapagal-Arroyo had criticized her successor Noynoy Aquino for his lack of action in solving the flooding problems in of all places, Cotabato City. Why not Zambales or Pampanga, we don’t know. Maybe it’s just the ex-president’s way of getting back at Aquino for his unflattering statements regarding the former administration.

That would have been okay on TV and the radio, the traditional boxing ring for political scuffles, but using Twitter to throw brickbats is rather novel for politicos.

But no matter. In war, you use what you can to hurt your enemy. There might not be enough space on the Internet for all the battles to be waged from hereon.

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