IN CONTEMPT
THE House Tri-Committee has cited three social media personalities in contempt for snubbing subpoenas and one for interfering with an ongoing congressional investigation on fake news and online disinformation.
Cited were Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa and Jeffrey Almendras Celiz for being absent despite multiple summons.
Meanwhile, Mark Lopez, who attended a previous hearing, was cited for issuing public statements attacking the committee.
Sasot, Badoy and Celiz will be detained on the House premises until the committee hearing is terminated.
“Mr. Jeffrey Celiz, Ms. Badoy,’and Ms. Sasot violated section 11 paragraph A, may I respectfully move that the three mentioned name be detained until the committee hearing will be terminated and be detained in the premises of the House,” Paduano said.
Lopez will be detained for 10 days at the House of Representatives.
“Now, Mr. Chairman, for the second motion, in the case of Mr. Mark Anthony Lopez under our rules in violation of letter F is only maximum of 10 days,” said Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts.
“So with that, Mr. Chairman, I move that Mr. Mark Anthony Lopez be detained in the premises of the House for 10 days,” he said.
The committee adopted the motion without objection.
Paduano earlier cited Lopez for violating internal rules on undue interference in congressional inquiries.
“Mr. Chairman, with this blog made by Mr. Mark Lopez, Mr. Chairman, this is in violation of once again section 11 paragraph F of our internal rules, undue interference during the proceedings, Mr. Chairman, or committee investigation,” he said.
He quoted portions of Lopez’s blog, saying it sought to discredit the panel.
“It was blatantly used that there was a concerted effort to humiliate us and bring us down on our knees,” he read. “Even mainstream media are gleefully celebrating and pouncing on our forced breakdown and takedown in Tri-Comm hearing,” he read.
Paduano said Lopez had been warned during the previous session.
