PURSUIT OF TRUTH
THE House Tri-Committee will resume its hearing on fake news and disinformation and invited vloggers and social media influencers including those who apologized for spreading fake news.
First on the list of invited guests is Jose “Jay” Yumang Sonza, according to Tri-Comm over-all chairman Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.
Also invited were Krizette Laureta Chu, Mark Lopez, Mary Jane Quiambao Reyes, and former press secretary and vlogger Atty. Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles.
Chu, who introduced herself as Manila Bulletin editor, Reyes and Lopez apologized to lawmakers during the March 21 Tri-Comm hearing for their alleged misleading and unverified claims.
Aside from Sonza, the list of invited resource persons includes Elizabeth Joie Cruz (Joie De Vivre), Dr. Ethel Pineda Garcia, Alvin Curay, Ma. Khristine Claud Curay, Epifanio Labrador, Manuel Mata Jr. (Kokolokoy), Dr. Richard Tesoro Mata (Dr. Richard and Erika Mata), George Ahmed Paglinawan (Luminous by Trixie & Ahmed), Aeron Peña (Old School Pinoy), Ramon Gerardo B. San Luis and Elijah San Fernando (Eli).
In addition to these names, the joint panel subpoenaed 24 vloggers and influencers to testify at the upcoming April 8 hearing.
Committee on Public Accounts chair Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano earlier warned that the 24 individuals who were issued subpoenas could face contempt charges and detention if they fail to appear again.
The 24 subpoenaed individuals are Ernesto S. Abines Jr., Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, Suzanne Batalla, Mary Catherine Binag, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz, Atty. Glenn Chong, Claire Eden Contreras, Lord Byron Cristobal, Jeffrey G. Cruz, Alex Destor, Ma. Florinda Espenilla-Duque, Claro Ganac, Edwin Jamora, Elmer Jugalbot, Julius Melanosi Maui, Joe Smith Medina, Alven L. Montero, Jonathan Morales, Cyrus Preglo, Vivian Zapata Rodriguez, Darwin Salceda, Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, Maricar Serrano and Kester Ramon John Balibalos Tan.
The committees conducting the hearings include the Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology and Public Information.
The panels aim to determine the accountability of some content creators and social media influencers for peddling fake news and the platforms’ response to the spread of coordinated disinformation.
Lawmakers have voiced concern over reports that some vloggers use their content allegedly designed to mislead the public and attack political critics. The hearings aim to uncover whether these acts are part of an organized campaign and how they are being financed.
Representatives from social media platforms such as Meta (Facebook), TikTok and Google are also expected to appear before the committee to answer questions about their content moderation systems and cooperation with government efforts against fake news.
Officials from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Justice, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Internal Revenue and Anti-Money Laundering Council were invited to attend the investigation.
