Eight of the 11 subpoenaed vloggers, including former press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, columnist Mary Jane Quiambao-Reyes, and writer Krizette Laureta-Chu, attended the third hearing on fake news by the House Tri-Committee at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Friday, March 21, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A lawmaker on Monday warned that resource persons in the House Tri-Comm probe on misinformation and disinformation could be cited for contempt if they attack or insult the inquiry or the lawmakers.

"Just to remind you – Section 11 of our internal rules, Paragraph F – we will not allow discussions or attacking, insulting this committee hearing after the suspension of this hearing because you will be in violation… we will be forced to cite you in contempt (undue interference)," Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod party-list said in a statement.

Paduano noted that the House had previously enforced this rule. 

He said a blocktimer from a radio station in Cagayan had earlier been cited for contempt for attacking the results of a committee hearing.

Vloggers risk detention if they continue snubbing House probe on disinformation

'FAKE NEWS PROBE IS FAIR'

House Deputy Majority Leader La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V meanwhile said the House Tri Committee's third hearing on "fake news" was fair despite some resource persons turning emotional and apologetic.

During the hearing held last Friday, Krizette Chu and and Mary Jean Quiambao Reyes were grilled by lawmakers over their posts.

"Tingin ko it was, nagawa po yung hearing ng maayos. At wala pong hindi pinasalita. Wala pong hindi napagbigyan. Tingin ko taliwas din sa mga agam-agam nila bago sila mag-attend at nag-umpisa yung hearing," he said in an online interview with reporters.

"Parang they were given enough time naman. Actually mas parang may sapaw pa nga sila sa doon sa nagtatanong eh. Kasi hindi pa tapos yung members saka ano, sasagot na sila agad. Parang they were a little bit more defensive than usual. Siguro po may resibo kasi, makikita po lahat ng  na-post nila dati," Ortega added.

Showbiz reporters? Content creators say sorry during House hearing on fake news

The lawmaker does not think his colleagues went overboard when they asked the two resource persons to apologize.

Chu was asked to apologize for her post on the supposed mass resignation in the Philippine National Police after the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Reyes, meanwhile, said sorry for her post calling the government "stupid" and for calling victims of extrajudicial killings a "massive hoax."

"Ang point ko naman, kung may mga misinformation o mali po yung mga posting, kahit sino po, kahit hindi yung vloggers na dun. Kung talagang malayo sa katotohanan, at kung walang basis yung pinagsasabi nila, eh may accountability po sila sa taongbayan," Ortega said.

"Kasi kung mami-mislead yung tao, or may kakalat na maling impormasyon, siguro mas they owe it to the people," he added.

Ortega underscored the need for social media personalities and the public in general to verify their sources of information before posting opinions.

"Yung ibang impormasyon doon ay hindi po verified, saka wala pong backing ng impormasyon o datos. They will always have a way of kung paano nila i-eexplain side nila. Pero kaya nga tayo nasa open hearing mabibigyan tayo ng pagkakaton ilabas yung puntos, ilabas yung facts ng bawat side, ilabas yung mga findings saka mga statement po ng ating experts sa ganyang larangan. Kasi nga kailangan natin magbalangkas ng batas o regulasyon para maayos natin yung malaking problema ng fake news," he explained.

The lawmaker also responded to the claim of Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who was also at the hearing, that any law on fake news may impede the freedom of speech or expression.

"Kaya tayo nagkakaroon ng hearing, tinitingnan natin kung ano yung pinaka angkop na gawin para po hindi po ma-impede yung sinasabi nating freedom of speech saka yung expression po. Kaya nga po meron tayong ganitong hearing. It doesn't mean na meron nang gagawin para ihinto yung mga ganito, ihinto yung mga ganyan, Hindi ganyan takbo ng legislation," Ortega said.

The Tri Committee has tentatively set another hearing on "fake news" in April. 

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday stressed that any legislation curbing fake news or disinformation or misinformation should not violate the constitutional guarantees on free speech and press freedom. 

"Ang magandang timbangan o susi at tulay sa anumang batas na ipapasa kaugna ng fake news, hindi dapat ito tumawid dun sa paglalapastangan sa karapatan ng ating mga kababayan na malayang makapagsalita," he said.

Nonetheless, he explained that free speech is not absolute, maintaining that truthfulness will always be the test.

-- with reports from Paige Javier and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

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