House subpoenas vloggers who skipped second fake news hearing
The House of Representatives' tri-committee has issued a subpoena against vloggers who skipped anew its second hearing on fake news and disinformation.
Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Joseph 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.
Those who were issued subpoenas include Dr. Richard Mata, Ethel Pineda, Elizabeth Joi Cruz, Aaron Peña, Krizette Lauretta Chu, Suzanne Batalla, former press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angles, Sass Rogando Sassot, Mary Jean Reyes, Mark Anthony Dela Cruz Lopez, and former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict officials Lorraine Marie Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz.
Paduano added that the said names have not been cited in contempt.
Only five social media personalities—Elijah San Fernando, Ross Flores Del Rosario, Atty. Claire Castro, Marc Louie Gamboa, and Maria Lourdes Tiquia—were in attendance.
Social media platforms given show cause orders
Meanwhile, show-cause orders have also been issued against the Philippine offices of Facebook and TikTok for their absence.
A letter from the international law firm White and Case for Meta said that the international tech company "cannot be invited." It also said that Facebook Philippines "is not authorized to receive the invitation," 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Rodriguez said.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, on the other hand, said it could not appear due to an engagement in Singapore.
Google Philippines was present for the Feb. 18 hearing.
During its Feb. 4 hearing, only three out of the 42 invited vloggers appeared before the tri-com. Some cited being abroad as their reason for not attending, while others argued the hearing violated their freedom of speech and was unconstitutional.
Some of the influencers, represented by Harry Roque, sought legal redress from the Supreme Court regarding the issue.
Lawmakers have refuted that the House's probe violates freedom of speech. House committee on public order and safety chairman Rep. Dan Fernandez earlier said that the hearing aims to investigate "whether social media is being used to mislead the public, undermine institutions or facilitate foreign disinformation." (with reports from Delon Procalla)
