Lawmakers reminded the anchor of Sonshine Media Network International that he cannot invoke the Sotto Law after he admitted and even apologized for the false information he reported on the alleged P1.8 billion travel expenses of Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Reps. David Suarez of Quezon and Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City told SMNI host Jeffrey Celiz that he lost his ability to hide under Republic Act No. 11458 or the Shield Law that journalists usually invoke.
The Sotto Law exempts publishers, editors, or reporters from revealing their news source or information obtained in confidence.
“During our last hearing, he (Celiz) admitted, and even apologized, for the wrong information he got. So why should he now use the Sotto Law which is not anymore applicable to him, precisely because he himself acknowledged that his information was wrong?” Suarez said.
“He better tell us his source because this issue affects the relationship between the Senate and the House. He told us that his source is from the Senate, not the House. As it is, I won’t even be surprised if the Senate conducts its own inquiry on this matter.”
“You (Celiz) already involved the Senate in this misinformation and fake news,” Suarez added.
For his part, Tambunting, chair of the House committee on legislative franchises, reminded Celiz that the House cannot accord him the privilege of invoking the Sotto Law on the basis that he is “not an accredited media practitioner.”
He also reminded the host of SMNI’s “Laban para sa Bayan” that lawmakers have already afforded him all the leeway to exercise his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel.
“He was allowed to speak four times, the Honorable Suarez asked the question four times, he (Celiz) refused to reply, and the Honorable Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco afforded him the executive session to reveal the source of his information and again he refused,” he said.
“He always cited a law (Sotto Law) that did not apply to the committee because it was not the law’s intent. He cannot hide under that law,” Tambunting said.
Celiz himself admitted in last week’s hearing that his source, who he said was a Senate employee, provided him with the wrong information. He has since apologized to the Speaker and the House.
Celiz and his SMNI co-host, Lorraine Badoy, went on hunger strike on Wednesday to protest their detention at the House of Representatives.
