Author of blog 'plagiarized' by Sen. Sotto reacts unfavorably

MANILA, Philippines  (Aug 17, 2012)  - Sarah Pope, the blogger who accused Sen. Tito Sotto of plagiarizing her blog post in his anti-Reproductive Health Bill speech, lambasts the Senator in a recent article while advocating that Filipino women should be given a choice in their pregnancy and in having a child.

"Women of the Philippines: I am terribly sorry my blog was used and twisted against you. You deserve the choice to use the pill if you want or need to based on your particular circumstances. While I want you to know that this choice has health consequences as does the decision to use any pharmaceutical drug. I in no way ever condone taking this choice away from you," Pope said in an August 16 entry of her blog www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com.

She also scored Sotto for denying that his speech used portions of her Februray 23, 2011 blog entry "How the Pill Can Harm Your Future Child's Health."

The full blog post is found here. 

In a TV interview, Sotto was quoted as saying "Why would I quote a blogger?"

"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 was a put on, and I'm starting to think they are right," Pope added.

In his speech Monday, Sotto turned emotional and said his firstborn son died of heart complications five months after birth owing to the use of birth control pills of his wife Helen.

On Thursday night, Hector Villanueva, Sotto's chief of staff, posted a message on Pope's Facebookpage and admitted that his staff used portions of Pope's blog but only in "quoting also from the same book of Dr. Campbell-Mcbride."

"We are both indebted to the book's author but if you wish that you also be credited with the contents of the book, let this be your affirmation. I can do it and by this message, I am doing it. Hope it satisfies you," Villacorta said.

But despite Villacorta's attempt at troubleshooting, Sarah Pope appears unmoved. "A thief is a thief, Mr. Senator. Denying it doesn’t get you off the hook; it just makes you a lying thief, " said said. (From Philstar.com)