SC requires House to comment on influencers' TRO petition

The Supreme Court (SC) has required the House of Representatives to comment on the petition filed by online content creators and influencers against an inquiry on fake news, SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said Thursday.

In a message to reporters, Ting said the court required the House to comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of 15 days from notice in a resolution dated February 11.

The influencers filed their petition for a temporary restraining order before the High Court on February 4, the same day they did not attend the House inquiry.

The petitioners include Atty. Trixie Cruz Angeles, Mark Anthony Lopez, Ernesto Abines Jr., Pineda Garcia, Krizette Lauretta Chu, Jonathan Morales, Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, Aaron Peña (Old School Pinoy), Elizabeth Joie Cruz (Joie De Vivre), Suzanne Batalla (IamShanwein), Kester Ramon, John Balibalos Tan (Mr Realtalker), and Ahmed Paglinawan (Luminous by Trixie & Ahmed).

They asked the SC for a TRO to prohibit the respondents from “threatening” them in their exercise of freedom of speech, of expression and of the press, including inviting them to the inquiry.

The influencers also argued 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." — RF, GMA Integrated News