Former press secretary faces disbarment case

The House tri-committee is mulling to lodge a possible disbarment case against Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, former press secretary of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for her defiance to attend a congressional inquiry on Tuesday, a matter seen as misconduct of a lawyer.

Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano stressed that Angeles’ blatant disregard of the congressional summon, notwithstanding that she is a lawyer and is cognizant of the Congress’ legislative inquiry powers, constitutes an offense.

“My second motion is for the legal department of this House to study if ever there is a violation because [s]he is an officer of the court and [s]he should respect the constitutional duty of Congress,” Paduano said. “Mr. Chairman, I respectfully move that we will consult the legal department of this house for a possible disbarment case against Atty. Trixie Angeles.”

Angeles was among the 40 social media personalities summoned by the committee to its first hearing into the rampant spread of false and malicious information on the internet, with falling victims including lawmakers themselves.

‘Because I think, Mr. Chair, not only the social media are supposed to be invited but also the mainstream media, and I am personally victimized by these two popular newspapers, broadsheets.’

However, Angeles turned down the invitation, citing concerns about its legality, abridging the freedom of speech.

“I respectfully decline this invitation as I question the legality of the inquiry as well as the proposed legislation for being violative of the constitutional guarantee of free speech,” panel chairperson Dan Fernandez said, quoting Angeles.

DAILY TRIBUNE’s former columnist, Mark Lopez, was also invited to the probe but rejected it on the grounds that it is “unconstitutional.”

“You see Mr. Fernandez and Barbers, I reiterate that I am a citizen of the Republic, and I actually understand that the premise of your so-called inquiry is without basis nor cannot understand solid legal ground,” Fernandez said, reading Lopez’s letter. “I therefore invoke my rights as provided for the constitution and decline your invitation.”

As a result, the panel issued show-cause orders against Angeles, Lopez, and other vloggers namely, Elizabeth Joie Cruz, Jun Abines Jr., Dr. Richard Tesoro Mata, Aaron Peña, Suzanne Batalla and Ethel Pineda, to compel them to attend the subsequent House investigation. 

Meanwhile, Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta requested that the panel also summon the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star, citing his grievances to the broadsheets, which he claimed are being engaged in spreading fake news.

“Because I think, Mr. Chair, not only the social media are supposed to be invited but also the mainstream media, and I am personally victimized by these two popular newspapers, broadsheets,” Marcoleta lamented.

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

Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers has made it clear that the probe will “not curtail or suppress the freedom of speech” but will rather make a policy on the use of social media based on “discipline, code of conduct and code of ethics.”

Deepfake videos 

According to Jan Marcelo Reyes, a cyber security analyst from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, there is already a software application acquired by the Department of Information, Communication and Technology that could assist government agencies in identifying the culprits behind the proliferation of deepfake videos. 

He explained that once activated, the tool will be able to verify if it is fake within 30 seconds and show the results by putting a red X on the lower right portion of the computer screen.