40 social media personalities invited to House for fake news probe

Roughly 40 social media personalities have been invited to the first congressional probe set for Tuesday into the rampant spread of disinformation and alleged malicious content in the country, particularly targeting House lawmakers.

The hearing, which will be conducted by the House tri-committee comprising the committees on public order and safety, public information, and information and communications technology, aims to scrutinize how to combat the spread of false information in the digital age, assessing its impact on public perception and national security.

“Filipinos have the right to know the truth. We must protect them against our fellow Filipinos who spread misinformation that causes fear and division in our society,” said Sta. Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez, chair of the House committee on public order and safety, who is set to spearhead the hearing.

The 40 invited social media personalities include Malou Tiquia, Jose Yumang Sonza, Krizette Lauretta Chu, Mark Anthony Lopez, Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, MJ Quiambao Reyes, Vivian Zapata Rodriguez, Ethel Pineda, Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz, Lord Byron Cristobal (Banat By), Alex Destor (Tio Moreno), Aaron Peña (Old School Pinoy), Glen Chong, Manuel Mata Jr. (Kokolokoy), Elizabeth Joie Cruz (Joie De Vivre), Claro Ganac, Claire Eden Contreras (Maharlika Boldyakera), Jonathan Morales, Cyrus Preglo (Optics Politics), Maricar Serrano, and Ernesto S. Abines Jr. (Jun Abines).

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s former press secretary, Atty. Trixie Cruz Angeles, is also invited along with Julius Melanosi Maui (Maui Spencer), Darwin Salceda (Boss Dada TV), Elmer Jugalbot (Eb Jugalbot), Cathy Binag, MJ Mondejar, Suzanne Batalla (IamShanwein), Joe Smith Medina (Political Witch Boy), Jeffrey G. Cruz (JCCO / JJ Cruz), Alven L. Montero, Kester Ramon John Balibalos Tan (Mr. Realtalker), Edwin Jamora (Reyna Elena), Ma. Florinda Espenilla-Duque (Pebbles Duque), Dr. Richard Tesoro Mata (Dr. Richard and Erika Mata), Ahmed Paglinawan (Luminous by Trixie & Ahmed), Ryan Lingo, Atty. Enzo Recto (Atty. Ricky Tomotorgo), and Ross Flores Del Rosario (Wazzup Philippines).

The panel also summoned representatives from Google, Meta (Facebook), and ByteDance (TikTok), as well as officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to discuss regulatory challenges and enforcement mechanisms against online disinformation.

The congressional inquiry seeks to identify loopholes in existing laws and policies governing digital platforms that enable disinformation peddlers, cyberbullying, and harmful content.

Fernandez lamented that it is now high time to put an end to perpetrators exploiting digital platforms for political or financial gain by strengthening platform accountability, imposing stiffer penalties for repeat offenders, and improving digital literacy programs to help the public critically evaluate the veracity of online content.

The tri-committee was formed following a resolution in December to investigate the proliferation of “false and malicious content” targeting members of the House quad committee, which is probing the Duterte administration’s drug war and the criminal activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Members of the quad committee had cried foul for reportedly being subjected to false information, which they claimed was aimed at tainting their reputation ahead of the May midterm elections.

Previously, Fernandez alleged that these troll farms attacking lawmakers are being orchestrated and financed by a POGO boss, whom he claimed was Duterte’s former economic adviser, Michael Yang.

Yang has been linked to various criminal activities, including illegal drug trafficking and POGOs. He is also reportedly one of the incorporators of Empire 999 Realty Corporation, a real estate firm that owned the warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga, where P3.5 billion worth of shabu was seized in September last year.

The National Bureau of Investigation earlier warned that it would hesitate to file criminal charges against vloggers who incite sedition or cause excessive defamation without basis.

Meanwhile, it encouraged public officials subjected to defamation to file cyber libel complaints against these bloggers.