After a series of invitations from the House Tri-Committee (Tri-Comm), social media personalities, mostly pro-Duterte vloggers, attended the Thursday hearing on issues of cybercrimes, online harassment, and the spread of fake news.
Prior to this, the Tri-Comm had warned that invitees who refused to attend the hearing could be cited in contempt.
The invited resource persons included former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Elizabeth Joey Cruz, Ethel Pineda Garcia, Krizzette Laureta Chu, Mark Anthony Lopez, Mary Jane Quiambao Reyes, Richard Mata, and Marc Louie Gamboa.
Pro-Duterte vlogger Sass Rogando Sassot attended the hearing via Zoom, but her connection was cut off after Committee Chair Johnny Pimentel stated that the links were exclusive to house panel members.
Also in attendance were Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro and Presidential Communications (PCO) Chief Sec. Jay Ruiz.
Representatives from various government offices attended, including the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Also present were Tiktok representative and Facebook’s third-party fact-checker Vera Files and PressOne.PH
(HOR photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.