The House of Representatives Tri-Committee (TriComm) will convene its third public hearing on Friday to address the growing threat of online disinformation, with 11 social media personalities and vloggers facing possible contempt and detention—including former Communications Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles—if they continue to ignore the probe.
The Committees on Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology, and Public Information had earlier issued show cause orders to individuals linked to the spread of misleading online content.
Despite multiple summonses, several failed to appear before the panel, prompting the committee to escalate legal measures, including issuance of subpoenas to be served against the 11 vloggers.
Alongside Cruz-Angeles, a lawyer, those facing contempt citations are Aeron Peña, Allan Troy “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.
Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, overall chairman of the Tri-Comm, said the congressional probe seeks to hold individuals accountable for the spread of false and manipulative content online.
“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.
The committee is enforcing contempt citations 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,” Fernandez explained.
Earlier, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chairman of the House Quad Comm, said the House TriComm inquiry on the dissemination of fake news and malicious content on social media platforms is not intended to suppress freedom of expression or of speech.
Barbers, whose privilege speech last December 16, together with a resolution authored by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., prompted the inquiry, made clear the purpose of the probe at the start of TriComm’s hearings.
“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,” Barbers said.
Barbers said he and his colleagues want certain rules or best practices to govern the dissemination of information on social media
The scheduled hearing Friday will also feature testimony from key government agencies, social media platforms, media organizations and civil society groups.