LAWMAKERS reminded the anchor of Sonshine Media Network International that he cannot invoke the Sotto Law after he admitted – and even apologized – that the information he received about the alleged P1.8 billion travel expenses of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was wrong.

Reps. David “Jayjay” Suarez of Quezon and Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City (head of the House committee on legislative franchise) lectured SMNI host Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz about the fact that he lost his ability to hide under Republic Act (RA) No. 11458 that journalists usually use.

The Sotto Law exempts publishers, editors, or reporters from revealing the news source or information obtained in confidence.

“During our last hearing, he (Celiz) admitted, and even apologized, for the wrong information he got. So, why should he now use the Sotto Law which is not anymore applicable to him, precisely because he himself acknowledged that his information was wrong,” Suarez maintained.

“He better tell us his source because this issue affects the relationship between the Senate and the House. He told us that his source is from the Senate, not the House. As it is, I won’t even be surprised if the Senate conduct its own inquiry on this matter,” he added.

“You (Celiz) already involved the Senate in this misinformation and fake news,” Suarez insisted.

Tambunting, for his part, also reminded Celiz that the House cannot accord him the privilege of invoking the Sotto Law on the basis that he is “not an accredited media practitioner” and that he has no accreditation to show lawmakers that he is indeed one.

Besides, the senior administration legislator likewise reminded the host of SMNI’s “Laban para sa Bayan” that lawmakers have already afforded him all the leeway to exercise his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel.

“He was allowed to speak four times, the Honorable Suarez asked the question four times, he (Celiz) refused to reply, and the Honorable Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco afforded him the executive session to reveal the source of his information and again he refused,” he narrated further.

“He refused to answer the question that Honorable Suarez asked and always cited a law (Sotto) that did not apply to the committee because it was not the law’s intent. He cannot hide under that law, and lastly, he was already given a counsel,” Tambunting told the panel.

Celiz himself admitted in last week’s hearing that his source provided him with the wrong information. He has apologized to the Speaker and the House. He also alleged that his source was from the Senate.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Suarez, the proponent of the inquiry into the allegation about the Speaker’s travel expenses, pressed Celiz to name his informant.

Suarez said it was important for the SMNI program host to identify his source because Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri stated that he knew no one in the Senate who could have provided such information.

He quoted Zubiri as saying that until Celiz identify his sources, the Speaker’s travel expenses claim was just an “intrigue” aimed at creating controversy and a “rift in the strong partnership” of the Senate and the House.

Suarez further quoted the Senate president as adding that he would order an investigation and impose disciplinary action on the Senate employee involved if he were identified.

“So I am asking you, who is the source of your information, which you have admitted to be not true, and who you claimed is from the Senate?” Suarez asked Celiz.

The Quezon lawmaker said identifying the informant was crucial because the issue “involved inter-parliamentary relationship” between the Senate and the House.

Celiz refused to answer the question and proceeded to give a lengthy statement.