Paduano: TriComm won't allow attacks, insults

Content creators who are resource persons in the House TriComm inquiry on the spread of false information online may be cited in contempt and detained if they insult the joint committee after the recent hearing, Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano said on Monday.

Paduano, who is also a member of the House Committee on Public Order issued the statement three days after content creators MJ Reyes and Krizette Chu apologized for their posts in social media. 

“Section 11 of our internal rules, Paragraph F. We will not allow discussions or attacking, insulting this committee hearing after the suspension of this hearing because you will be in violation… We will be forced to cite you in contempt,” Paduano said in a statement.

Paduano added that the citing resource persons who bad mouth the proceedings after the fact in contempt has been done before to a radio block timer because of his attacks on the proceedings and its findings.

“We have already done that in my committee when a block timer from Bombo Radyo Cagayan was cited in contempt because, after the hearing, he attacked the results of the inquiry. Please be reminded,” Paduano said.

The three House committees investigating the proliferation of false information online are the House committees on public information, on public order and safety, and on information and communications technology.

The next hearing has been tentatively set for April 8.

During the March 21 hearing, the committee also approved Paduano’s motion to issue a subpoena ad testificandum to 24 vloggers and influencers supporters who have failed to attend the hearing despite receiving show-cause orders.

Among the 24 were former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy, vlogger Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, and vlogger Sass Rogando Sasot.

Also subpoenaed were Alex Distor, Alven Mortero, Claire Eden Contreras, Claro Ganac, Cyrus Priglo, Darwin Salceda, Edwin Jamora, Elmer Jugalbot, Ernesto Abines Jr., Atty. Glen Chong, Jeffrey Cruz, Josmith Medina, Jonathan Morales, Julius Milan Maui, Kester Tan, Lord Byron Cristobal, Maria Florenda Espenilla, Maricar Serrano, Susan Batalla, Mary Catherine Binag and Vivian Zapata Rodriguez.

Before March 31, subpoenas were already issued to 11 individuals, including those issued to Badoy, Celiz, and Sasot, who all failed to appear on Friday.

“May we inform those mentioned that have been issued subpoena that the subpoena is still in effect,” Paduano said.

In a separate statement, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said that apologies for saying that the drug war killings during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte are a hoax, among other false statements, are not enough if the vloggers won’t change their ways and start telling the truth.

“These apologies are a start, but they are not enough. If these vloggers are truly sincere, they must stop spreading lies and start presenting the truth—not their so-called 'truth,' but the real, honest-to-God truth. You cannot hide behind the phrase ‘my truth’ when talking about human rights violations,” Abante said.

“Truth is not subjective. It must be based on facts and evidence. Calling the extrajudicial killings a ‘massive hoax’ is not just irresponsible—it is an insult to the victims, to the grieving families, and to the institutions––such as the House and the Commission on Human Rights––that investigated these crimes,” he added.

Abante is the chairperson of the House Committee on Human Rights.

He said accounts with huge followers have a bigger responsibility to be truthful.

“You cannot just post anything for likes or views and expect to walk away from the consequences." They admitted they had no documentation, no solid evidence––and that they were relying on posts online. These were red flags,”  Abante said.

“If they are truly sorry, they should use their platforms now to correct the misconceptions they promoted. Say what is true. Describe what really happened. Acknowledge the pain of the victims' families,” Abante added.

Abante urged the public to remain vigilant against disinformation and said that he would remain active in the campaign to purge social media platforms of falsehoods and fake news intended to deceive and manipulate the Filipino people. –NB, GMA Integrated News