22/03/2025
EX-PCO CHIEF CRUZ-ANGELES, 10 OTHERS FACE CONTEMPT, DETENTION FOR SNUBBING FAKE NEWS PROBE
The House Tri-Committee (Tri-Comm) will hold its third public hearing on Friday to tackle the growing threat of disinformation and fake news online, with 11 social media personalities and vloggers—including former Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCO) Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles—facing possible contempt and detention if they continue to ignore the congressional probe.
The Committees on Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology, and Public Information had previously issued show-cause orders to individuals allegedly linked to the spread of misleading online content. After multiple summonses were ignored, the panel escalated legal measures by issuing subpoenas to compel the 11 vloggers to testify.
Alongside Cruz-Angeles, those facing contempt citations are Aeron Peña, Sass Rogando Sasot, Elizabeth Joie Cruz, Dr. Ethel Pineda Garcia, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz, Krizette Laureta Chu, Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, Mark Anthony Lopez, Mary Jean Quiambao Reyes, and Richard Tesoro Mata.
Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, overall chair of the Tri-Comm, underscored the national security implications of disinformation, stating that false and manipulative content undermines public trust and democratic institutions.
"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," Fernandez said.
He stressed that enforcing contempt citations is necessary to uphold the integrity of congressional investigations.
"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," he added.
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chairman of the House Quad Committee, reiterated that the congressional inquiry is not intended to curtail free speech but to establish accountability in the dissemination of online information.
"I just would like to reiterate that the objective of the the hearings the Tricom is conducting is not to suppress the freedom of expression or the freedom of speech," Barbers said. "In fact we are all aware that this is provided for in our Constitution and we'd like to respect the right of every one to his own opinion or to his own expression. Contrary to what others may be thinking, this is not in any way a tool to suppress their expressions or opinions on certain issues, whether they may be political or economic or even other points of views."
He emphasized the need for regulations or best practices to govern social media content, particularly in preventing the spread of falsehoods.
The scheduled hearing will also feature testimonies from key government agencies, social media platforms, media organizations, and civil society groups.
Officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been invited to discuss regulatory and enforcement measures against disinformation.
Representatives from Google Philippines, Meta (Facebook), and ByteDance (TikTok) are expected to address concerns regarding their platforms' roles in disseminating fake news. The Tri-Comm has issued show-cause orders to the Philippine offices of Facebook and TikTok after their absence from a recent hearing.
Media organizations, including the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Manila Broadcasting Company, PressOne.PH, and VERA Files, will present findings on the extent of fake news proliferation.
Additionally, social media figures Jay Sonza, Vivian Velez, Enzo Recto, and George Ahmed Paglinawan have been summoned to testify.
The congressional probe is part of a broader initiative to combat online disinformation, which lawmakers warn poses a significant threat to national security and democratic institutions. The Tri-Comm is expected to lay the groundwork for legislative measures aimed at curbing the deliberate spread of fake news in the country.
