‘Despicable’ or Satire? PM Briceño Calls Alberto August’s Post ‘Disgusting’

Prime Minister John Briceño is standing firmly behind Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira’s decision to file a cyberbullying complaint against former UDP Chairman Alberto August but says he personally would never do the same.

At the same time, Briceño rejected concerns that the arrest sets a dangerous precedent for political criticism and an attack on free speech.

Briceño said that Mira was exercising his rights as a private citizen. “Oscar Mira also is a citizen, and if he feels that somebody is slandering him, he has every right to go and make a report,” Briceño said. “He made a report, which is his constitutional right.”

On Monday, August’s attorney, Michael Peyrefitte, called Mira “thin-skinned” and called on the PM to remove him from the role. However, PM Briceño also rejected that, saying, “We are all different.” And sometimes we do need to take a stance,” he said, before adding, “Maybe I should consider taking out lawsuits against Alberto August.”

When pressed on whether politicians should use cybercrime laws against critics, Briceño pushed back firmly on the argument that August’s post was political satire. “You think what Alberto August does is satire? Let’s get that straight,” he said. “What Alberto August did is disgusting.”

PM Briceño accused August of exploiting a grieving family’s tragedy for political purposes and said Mira was justified in feeling aggrieved. Yet when asked whether August’s daily posts about him had ever tempted him to pursue similar charges, the PM was dismissive.

“Alberto August wouldn’t take up the time of my efforts in dealing with him. He can say whatever the hell he wants, and it doesn’t bother me a bit,” Briceño added.