(March 22, 2024) – The tri-committee of the House of Representatives on Friday reiterated the subpoenas for vloggers and content creators allied with former president Rodrigo Duterte after they skipped the latest inquiry into fake news and disinformation.
Lorraine Badoy, Sass Rogando Sasot, Jeffrey Celiz, and others have now skipped three hearings. According to the Philippine Star, the tri-committee has sent show-cause orders to 34 individuals. Only 10 attended the inquiry on Friday.
“The next step after the subpoenas have been issued. If the mentioned personalities will not attend the hearing, the committee has no recourse but to issue a contempt order,” said Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel.
Former Presidential Communications Office secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who appeared as a resource person, informed lawmakers that Badoy is currently abroad. She also said Sasot is in China and “cannot return to the country.”
According to Cruz-Angeles, Sasot attempted to join the hearing via video conference but was not allowed. Pimentel stated that only the members of the House of Representatives are permitted to do so.
“Please submit the ticket or whatever document. But the subpoena is still in effect,” added Pimentel.
Badoy and Celiz, both hosts of Sonshine Media Network International, are notorious for red-tagging. Badoy is also a former spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
In February 2024, the Supreme Court found Badoy guilty of indirect contempt for red-tagging a judge of a regional trial court in Manila.
Last December, Badoy and Celiz lost a P2 million civil suit filed by journalist Atom Araullo, whom they had accused of being part of a communist group.
Sasot, meanwhile, is known for posts touting Duterte and attacking his critics.
Some pro-Duterte vloggers and content creators, including Krizette Chu and Mary Jane Quiambao Reyes, became emotional during the inquiry on Friday. Some of them admitted to sharing false information online and apologized.
The next hearing is tentatively on April 8.
(PM)
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