House panel subpoenas social media influencers
THE House Tri Committee has issued subpoenas to social media influencers and vloggers who failed to attend the second hearing on fake news and disinformation.
Despite receiving show cause orders, the social media influencers defied another invitation which prompted lawmakers to warned them of legal consequences and that congressional inquiries must be respected.
“We have received a copy of several letters coming from resource persons that was issued the show cause order during the Feb. 4 hearing,” Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano stated.
He noted that most of these influencers provided similar justifications for their absence, citing their petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court as their reason for non-compliance.
Paduano read aloud the names of those who failed to attend, including Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Krizette Laureta Chu, Sass Rogando Sasot,
Mark Anthony Lopez, Lorraine Marie Badoy-Partosa, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz (Eric Celiz),
Dr. Richard Mata, Ethel Pineda Garcia, Joie De Vivre (Elizabeth Joi Cruz), Aaron Peña, and Mary Jean Reyes.
The subpoena against Suzanne Batalla was later put on hold after she submitted a medical certificate explaining her absence.
Paduano clarified that none of them had been cited for contempt, but emphasized that the committee must now escalate its actions.
“Mr. Chairman, may I respectfully move that we issue a subpoena ad testificandum for all those mentioned names that has officially received a copy of such show cause order?” Paduano moved.
Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, sitting as chair of the Tri Comm hearing, quickly affirmed the motion.
Paduano said that Cruz-Angeles, who had publicly questioned the legitimacy of the congressional inquiry, was issued a show cause order due to her actions against the hearing.
“Firstly, the joint committee issued the show cause order against Attorney Angeles not because of her non-attendance… but because of the content of the communication that she submitted before this committee, which directly challenges our jurisdiction to conduct inquiry in aid of legislation,” he explained.
Paduano reminded Angeles that, as a lawyer, she is obligated to respect the Constitution, particularly the provision granting Congress the power to conduct investigations in aid of legislation.
“We would like to remind Attorney Angeles that as an officer of the court and a member of the legal profession, she’s bound to respect and abide by the Constitution,” he said.
He further announced that the committee’s legal department is considering filing a disbarment case against Angeles for her repeated violations of legal ethics.
