Pro-Duterte social media personalities Krizette Chu, MJ Reyes turn emotional during House hearing on fake news
Pro-Duterte social media personalities became emotional at the House of Representatives' third hearing on fake news and disinformation on Friday, March 21.
The House committees on public order and safety, information and communication technology, and public information held an inquiry attended by former Presidential Communications Office secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Ethel Pineda-Garcia, journalist Krizette Laureta Chu, MJ Quiambao Reyes, Mark Anthony Lopez, Elizabeth Cruz, and Dr. Richard Mata.
Chu, who claimed in a March 13 post that a large-scale resignation was imminent within the PNP and AFP following Rodrigo Duterte's arrest, was asked by Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre where she got these sources and if she ever made an "effort" to verify these posts from official sources.
She said there were people and policemen on TikTok "voicing out their feelings."
"I am maintaining that I am speaking the truth on the impressions made on social media," she added.
Acidre then cited a news article in which the PNP clarified that there had been no mass resignations in the agency.
In her defense, the journalist argued that the PNP's clarification of the rumors suggests that there had been discussions about a mass resignation.
"Kaya ako nag-include ng daw' [because] these were just impressions. The fact that our PNP had to write a press release means kami na wala kaming statistics, these were the impressions that were coming to us," she said.
"If I'm not an insider of PNP and they had to release that information, it means that they are correcting the general impression of masses like us. The fact that they had to write it means that there is a general impression," Chu said.
Acidre then argued that Chu should face legal repercussions, as her allegedly misleading post touched on issues of national security.
Chu affirmed that she would not apologize as it was not posted as "news."
"I will not apologize only because if you read the entire post, it was to support the PNP, and it was a good post. It was not news," she noted.
Nonetheless, Acidre stressed the importance of accountability for one's statements, especially when they impact national security and society as a whole.
'I apologize for my bad words'
In the same hearing, Chu turned emotional after apologizing to the House committee for using foul words describing the government in 2024.
"On Dec. 28, 2024, Miss Krizette, you said in tagalog, 'Ang tanga ng gobyernong 'to. Not just as leaders but as human beings.' Is that what you think?" Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante asked. "Ang galing mo naman. Tanga ang gobyerno, ikaw matalino. Am I right?"
Chu replied, "Mr. Chair, when one is angry, one says bad things."
Abante asked where she got these statements. "Tinatanong kita kung saan mo kinuha ito. Sa news mo lang pala kinuha eh. Wala kang documents. You cannot even tell me if you're telling facts or truth," he said.
"Ibig mong sabihin you're going to base your statement 'Tanga ang gobyerno' sa news na nakita mo, Mr. Chair? And you're telling me you're a journalist? You're telling me that you're speaking the truth?" Abante said, demanding her to apologize to the committee.
Chu then apologized for using offensive language and then became emotional.
"I apologize for my bad words, Sir. I apologize for saying the word 'tanga' in my post," Chu said.
'That is my truth, those are my opinion'
Meanwhile, vlogger Mary Jean Quiambao Reyes defended her social media post addressed to the International Criminal Court and the public. She labeled victims of extrajudicial killings under former president Rodrigo Duterte as a "massive hoax" and a "blatant lie.
According to her post, the EJK victims who were being shown in anti-Duterte rallies died years before or after Duterte's presidency.
"The anti-Duterte propagandists—likely funded by drug cartels, terrorists, corrupt politicians, greedy oligarchs, and narco-politicians—are desperately trying to manipulate the global narrative. They want you to believe that every young life lost was at the hands of our People's President Rody Duterte. This is a blatant lie," the post read.
However, Abante was not convinced and insisted that he could provide documents contrasting Reyes' claims.
He also pointed out that a congressional inquiry had already confirmed the occurrence of extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.
Reyes asserted that she was expressing her genuine beliefs, which she claimed were based on information found on social media and online news.
"That is my truth, those are my opinion[s]," she noted. "'Yun 'yung pinanggagalingan ng aking opinyon, reaksyon sa mga nabalitaan ko po sa social media at sa mga news online. Again, those are my personal reactions and opinions on the current events."
Furthermore, Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano also asked Quiambao whether any official documents supported her allegations.
"If I am not mistaken, nasa newspaper na rin po' yan," she responded.
However, Paduano said that it is very contradicting because of the testimony from resource persons during the Quad Comm hearings, including representatives from the Commission on Human Rights, who had confirmed the occurrence of extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.
"Sa Quad Comm po, sa hearing namin it was confirmed by Human Rights Commission, lahat po ng nakalista dun, under our records was confirmed by HRC. Wala po dun yung prior and after ng Duterte's administration," he said.
When Paduano asked if Reyes ever had documentation of her claims under oath, the vlogger said, "None, sir. Okay po, next po bago po tayo magsulat ng mga ganun kailangan kumuha muna tayo ng dokumento under oath at hindi tayo magbabase sa sinasabe ng mainstream media."
Abante said he would file a contempt motion against Reyes if she did not apologize for her comments.
Emotionally, Reyes said, "I apologize Sir. Gaya nga po ng sinabi ko kanina. Sa susunod po, maghahanap nalang po tayo ng mga [documents] na under oath at hindi tayo magrerely sa mga balita online."
Last month, the House of Representatives tri-committee issued a subpoena against vloggers who skipped anew its second hearing on fake news and disinformation.
Paduano filed the motion against the absent social media personalities during the probe on Feb. 18.
He said that the no-show influencers provided "similar justifications" for skipping the first hearing, which was that they filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.
