Pro-Duterte bloggers snub House hearing

A HOUSE of Representatives panel on Tuesday issued show cause orders against former press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles and several social media supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte for failing to attend a hearing on the spread of fake news and disinformation online. Only three out of about 40 invited social media figures attended Tuesday's hearing conducted by the House Committees on Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology, and Public Information on potential regulatory measures to curb misinformation on social media platforms. Among those who skipped the hearing were former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict officials Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celis, Cruz-Angeles, actress Vivian Velez, former broadcaster Jay Sonza, and bloggers Sass Sasot, Jun Abines, Mark Anthony Lopez, Lord Byron Cristobal (Banat By) and Krizette Chu. Cruz-Angeles, a lawyer and former chief of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, outright rejected the committee invitation, calling the inquiry unconstitutional. Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano criticized Cruz-Angeles' response, saying it blatantly disregards Congress' authority. Paduano moved to issue a show cause order against Cruz-Angeles and refer her case to the House legal department for a potential disbarment complaint. "She is an officer of the court... and she should respect the constitutional duty of Congress," Paduano said. "I respectfully move that we will consult the legal department of this House for a possible disbarment case against attorney Trixie Angeles." Both motions were approved without objection. Other social media figures served with show cause orders include Elizabeth Joie Cruz, known online as Joie De Vivre; Chu; Lopez; Abines; Richard Tesoro Mata; Aaron Peña; Suzanne Batalla (IamShanwein); and Ethel Pineda. The panel members took particular issue with Lopez, who sent a detailed letter rejecting the committee's authority. Chu, on the other hand, submitted a four-page explanation refusing to attend the hearing but did not cite health or travel concerns. Peña, meanwhile, denied links to offshore gaming operators or illegal activities but refused to appear, leading to another show cause order. Batalla and Pineda did not provide valid justifications for their absence, according to the lawmakers. In response to Cruz-Angeles' letter, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that the aim of the probe was not to suppress freedom of speech. "Our aim here is to craft policy on the use of social media platforms," Barbers said in Filipino and English. During the probe, Rachel Khan, professor of journalism at the University of the Philippines and co-founder of Tsek.ph, shared her policy analysis and recommendations. "Balancing the need to combat fake news with protecting fundamental rights is a complex challenge that requires extensive evaluation and flexibility in adjustment," Khan said. "Our current [Media and Information Literacy] courses in Grades 11 and 12 are only one quarter, so it's not enough, considering that it's now as important as reading and writing and arithmetic." She said children should be taught to be media literate as early as in Grade 1. Malou Tiquia, a columnist for The Manila Times, told the panel that "Congress should ban the use of troll armies." "Troll farms represent a significant challenge in the digital age, blending cyberwarfare with psychological manipulation. Addressing them requires technological innovation, regulatory frameworks and public awareness to safeguard democratic discourse," Tiquia said. Barbers asked her whether she believed it was right to create a law on the use of social media. "Yes," Tiquia said. Also, during the hearing, Barbers asked Ellen Tordesillas, a founder of Vera Files, whether she believed there should be ethical standards on the use of social media. "There should be," Tordesillas said in Filipino.