Two social media vloggers broke down in tears after Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante reprimanded them for allegedly spreading fake news during a House Tri-Committee hearing.
Abante denounced the social media posts of vloggers Krizette Chu and Mary Jane Quiambao Reyes, claiming they were fake news.
Representative Jude Acidre questioned Chu about her post claiming a massive resignation of police and soldiers after the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Chu admitted she had no confirmation about the issue, relying solely on social media for her claims.
Abante also confronted Chu about her post alleging that some congressmen send their children to school in Europe, but she couldn’t provide names when asked who she was referring to.
The legislator felt insulted, demanded an apology, and Chu promptly apologized.
Abante then confronted vlogger Mary Jane Quiambao Reyes about her post claiming that the information about those killed in the war on drugs was a massive hoax.
The lawmaker emphasized that the data on those killed in the war on drugs was verified by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and the House Quad Committee had records about it.
Reyes broke down in tears after Abante demanded she apologize for spreading fake news, which she also promptly did.
Abante stated, “These vloggers are ignorant. Are they trying to fool the government? Think carefully. You can’t just write whatever you want.”
Later, the vloggers claimed they apologized not because they spread fake news but because they feared being cited in contempt and detained in the House detention center.
(HoR screenshot)
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.