Only three out of over forty invited social media personalities attended the first hearing of the House Tri-Committee on the issue of fake news and disinformation.
The hearing, held in the House of Representatives, saw several resource persons, including former Press Secretary Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, send in excuse letters.
In her letter, Angeles explained that she could not attend, questioning the legality of the Tri-Committee’s investigation and claiming it violated freedom of speech. In response, Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano moved to have the legal department of the House study the possibility of filing a disbarment case against Angeles.
Many of the social media personalities who did not attend the hearing expressed concerns that the investigation was an attempt to curb freedom of speech. As a result, the Tri-Committee decided to issue show cause orders to those who refused to appear.
Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, who initiated the investigation, emphasized that the Tri-Committee’s goal was not to infringe on anyone’s rights to free speech. He clarified that the committee merely sought to establish regulatory policies and discipline in the use of social media platforms, similar to what is enforced in traditional media.
