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39 content creators no-show at House probe on fake news, cites freedom of speech


39 content creators no-show at House probe on fake news, cites freedom of speech

At least 39 online content creators and influencers did not attend Tuesday the House investigation on proliferation of fake news online, invoking freedom of speech.

Those who did not show up were:

  • Jose Yumang Sonza
  • Krizette Lauretta Chu
  • Mark Anthony Lopez
  • Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot
  • MJ Quiambao Reyes
  • Vivian Zapata Rodriguez
  • Ethel Pineda
  • Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa 
  • Jeffrey Almendras Celiz
  • Lord Byron Cristobal (Banat By)
  • Alex Destor (Tio Moreno)
  • Aaron Peña (Old School Pinoy)
  • Glenn Chong
  • Manuel Mata Jr. (Kokolokoy)
  • Elizabeth Joie Cruz (Joie De Vivre)
  • Claro Ganac
  • Claire Eden Contreras (Maharlika Boldyakera)
  • Jonathan Morales
  • Cyrus Preglo (Optics Politics)
  • Maricar Serrano
  • Ernesto Abines Jr. (Jun Abines)
  • Atty. Trixie Cruz Angeles
  • Julius Melanosi Maui (Maui Spencer)
  • Darwin Salceda (Boss Dada TV)
  • Elmer Jugalbot (Eb Jugalbot)
  • Cathy Binag
  • MJ Mondejar
  • Suzanne Batalla (IamShanwein)
  • Joe Smith Medina (Political Witch Boy)
  • Jeffrey Cruz (JCCO / JJ Cruz)
  • Alven Montero
  • Kester Ramon 
  • John Balibalos Tan (Mr Realtalker)
  • Edwin Jamora (Reyna Elena)
  • Ma/ Florinda Espenilla-Duque (Pebbles Duque)
  • Dr. Richard Tesoro Mata (Dr. Richard and Erika Mata)
  • Ahmed Paglinawan (Luminous by Trixie & Ahmed)
  • Ryan Lingo
  • Ross Flores Del Rosario (Wazzup Philippines).

The three online content creators/influences who attended the House probe were:

  • Malou Tiquia
  • Mark Louie Gamboa
  • Atty. Enzo Recto (Atty. Rico Tomotorgo)

Some of those absent said they are out of the country.

Aside from insisting freedom of speech, the content creators who did attend the hearing questioned the legitimacy and/goals of the House probe.

Most of the absentees submitted excuse letters, but Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano argued that an excuse letter is not a free pass.

"It depends on the reason," he said.

Paduano then made a motion to issue show cause order to the content creators who  "did not state valid reason" for their absence or did not reply to the House invitation at all.

A show cause order is an issuance where the resource person has to explain in writing why he or she should not be cited in contempt for failure to show up before a House inquiry.

The committee approved Paduano's motion.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, whose privilege speech calling out peddlers of fake news online was one of the reasons for the House inquiry, stressed that the investigation is not about curtailing freedom of speech. 

"We are gathered here today not to silence voices, suppress free speech, or curtail the constitutional right to freedom of expression. Instead, we are here to draw the line between responsible discourse and the deliberate, systematic abuse of digital platforms to spread lies, destroy reputations, and manipulate public perception," Barbers said.

"This hearing seeks to establish a regulatory framework for social media, similar to how the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) regulates television and radio broadcasters and how the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) upholds ethical standards for print media. Our goal is to develop a code of conduct for content creators, ensuring accountability and ethical responsibility in this rapidly evolving digital space," he added.

Article 3, Section 4 of the Constitution states that "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances."

TRO sought vs House probe

Also on Tuesday, the online content creators and influencers who skipped the hearing asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the ongoing House probe on fake news.

In a petition for certiorari seeking for a TRO, the petitioners said that the House probe goes against the constitutional freedom of speech because it "threatens to take action against the vloggers who criticize public officials and who may have social media posts and contents that do not jive with the official rhetoric of those in power."

"These threats have been formalized through the House Resolution No. 326 (providing for the House probe on fake news) which is the initial step to passing a law that abridges freedom of speech, expression, and the press. The chilling effect on free speech is all the more present when viewed with the manner by which the members of the House of Representatives have conducted its inquiries in aid of legislation when they had cited in contempt the most number of resource speakers, humiliated, insulted and ridiculed them, and made them suffer detention," the petition read.

"Unless restrained, respondents will proceed with the hearings purportedly in aid of legislation covered by Resolution No. 286 and are bent on introducing legislation to suppress, stifle and censor free speech, all in the guise of 'regulation'," it added.

According to a ''24 Oras'' report on Tuesday, the content creators said that the hearing was not in aid of legislation.

They claimed that it was intended to humiliate them and violate their freedom of speech.

“Ang hinihiling namin dito sa kaso ay prohibition at certiorari...Ang pag-propose ng legislation na ito, ang desisyon na mag ganitong hearing ay ginawa with grave abuse of discretion, lalong lalo na ang karapatang magsalita at magpahayag,” said Angeles.

(What we are asking for in this case is prohibition and certiorari... The proposal of this legislation, this decision to hold this hearing is done with grave abuse of discretion, especially on the freedom of speech and expression.)

The petitioners include Angeles, Lopez, Abines Jr., Pineda Garcia, Chu, Morales, Badoy-Partosa, Pena, Guzmanos, Cruz, Batalla, Kester, Tan and Paglinawan.

In a separate statement, the petitioners' legal counsel Harry Roque said that the House probe targets former President Rodrigo Duterte, his family, and their allies.

“It is no coincidence that the conduct of the joint inquiry happened after the announcement of House Secretary General that the three impeachment complaints vs. Vice President Sara Duterte is about to be transmitted to Speaker Martin Romualdez this week," Roque said.

“We cannot expect fairness from this Kangaroo Court. From the very start, these influencers have been called and prejudged during the privilege speech of Representative Robert Ace S. Barbers as paid trolls and malicious vloggers. There is no other remedy but to find relief with the Supreme Court,where these embattled influencers and vloggers would have a fair fight. We are bringing the fight where it should rightfully be,” he added. —with Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News