Pro-Duterte vloggers told: Skip 'fake news' probe and face contempt

Former Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles and ten social media personalities face possible contempt and detention for repeatedly ignoring subpoenas from the House Tri-Committee, which is investigating their alleged role in the spread of false information online.

The committee issued a subpoena after Angeles and the vloggers failed to appear for the second time on 18 February, despite a show-cause order. Their continued absence has drawn warnings from lawmakers, who stress that defying congressional summons could lead to serious consequences.

Aside from Angeles, those who may be cited for contempt include former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lorraine Marie Badoy-Partosa, Mark Anthony Lopez, Krizette Laureta Chu, Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, Aeron Peña, Elizabeth Joie Cruz, Dr. Ethel Pineda Garcia, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz, Mary Jean Quiambao Reyes, and Richard Tesoro Mata.

The committee noted that these individuals have been vocal supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte and critics of the current administration.

The third hearing on the matter is set for Friday, with Committee Chairperson Sta. Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez warning that the vloggers’ continued defiance could lead to detention.

“Congress has the authority to summon individuals to testify on matters of public interest. Ignoring lawful orders is a direct challenge to our institution and the democratic principles we protect,” Fernandez stated.

He emphasized that despite the vloggers’ petition before the Supreme Court seeking to block the committee from compelling them to appear, the House remains committed to having them testify.

Fernandez underscored the national security risks posed by disinformation, stating,

“Disinformation is a national security issue. It erodes public trust, destabilizes institutions, and manipulates democratic discourse. We cannot allow social media to become a free-for-all platform for deception and propaganda," he stressed.

He reinforced that the committee's objective is to address misinformation and online manipulation through policy reforms.

The probe, which began on 4 February, aims to investigate the spread of disinformation and examine potential legislative measures to regulate the issue. Lawmakers have expressed concerns that they themselves have been targeted by fake news and troll farms, which they believe are linked to their investigations into the Duterte administration’s drug war and criminal activities associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Previously, Fernandez and House Quad Committee Chairperson Ace Barbers alleged that trolls attacking and discrediting the probe could be financed by a POGO boss attempting to disrupt the inquiry into the controversial industry. Barbers clarified that the hearings are not meant to suppress free speech but rather to establish policies against the spread of misinformation.

The upcoming hearing on Friday will also include testimonies from government agencies, social media platforms, media organizations, and civil society groups. Social media figures, including Jay Sonza, Vivian Velez, Enzo Recto, and George Ahmed Paglinawan, have also been summoned to appear before the panel.

Representatives from Google Philippines, Meta (Facebook), and ByteDance (TikTok) are expected to address concerns about their platforms’ role in spreading misinformation. The local representatives of Facebook and TikTok have also been subpoenaed after failing to attend the previous hearing.