Manila Rep. Benny Abante calls out social media personality and journalist Krizette Chu over her criticism of the government, questioning the facts and sources behind聽her聽anger.
MANILA, Philippines聽 鈥� Two vloggers apologized to House lawmakers after they were confronted with evidence that ran contrary to their claims.
At one point during the House tri-committee hearing on Friday, MJ Quiambao-Reyes apologized to Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. for claiming that extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the Duterte administration鈥檚 drug war were a 鈥渉oax,鈥� and that those who criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte were funded by drug cartels, terrorists, and corrupt politicians.
READ: Vlogger says EJKs a hoax, but fails to present documentary evidence
Abante warned Reyes that if she would not apologize for her misleading claims, he would move to cite the vlogger for contempt.
鈥淢iss MJ, you are accountable to the victims, and you are accountable to us in the quad committee. You made us, the victims, appear like liars, so if you do not apologize right now 鈥� you listen 鈥� if you do not apologize, I am going to make a motion to hold you in contempt,鈥� Abante said.
鈥淚 apologize sir and as I said earlier, next time I would look for proof first鈥� and we would not rely on news reports only,鈥� Reyes replied.
鈥淢r. Chair, this is the second time that Miss MJ has apologized. I hope that next time, you vloggers, do not hastily give opinions based on your impressions. Give out the truth. If you have documents, use it because we have documents to show,鈥� Abante said.
Before throwing questions to Reyes, Abante asked Krizette Laureta Chu, a journalist who also maintains a political blog, if she would be willing to apologize or clarify her claim that many police officers were about to resign after the International Criminal Court (ICC) took custody of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
During Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre鈥檚 time to ask questions, Philippine National Police 鈥� Criminal Investigation Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III clarified that there was no mass resignation among police officers. This prompted Acidre to ask Chu where she got her information.
鈥淒o you believe that Ms. Krizette? Do you believe the statement of General Torre?鈥� Abante asked.
鈥淵es sir, because he has the insider information, I believe him, sir,鈥� Chu replied.
鈥淲ould you now please write something about that? Even if you do not apologize, would you now please write that you believe the statement of GeneralTorre? Would you please write that?鈥� Abante asked.
鈥淵es, sir, I will write to you that according to the PNP, there were no mass resignations due to the Duterte arrest,鈥� Chu promised.
Vloggers, including former Presidential Communications Office secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, appeared before the House of Representatives tri-committee after skipping the first two hearings. The three panels have been tasked to probe the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation over social media. (Photo from House Media Bureau)
Abante then pointed out that this also indicated that Chu was wrong.
Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop also scolded Chu for questioning lawmakers who can send their children to study abroad. According to Acop, none of his children studied abroad.
When Chu reasoned out that she was not referring to Acop, the Antipolo-based lawmaker said the vlogger鈥檚 statements were general and could be intended for anyone.
鈥淣ow, the lesson I would like to give to you is that whenever you come up with your post, you should not generalize because when you say congressmen, you are referring to all.鈥�
鈥淭hat was not my intention sir,鈥� Chu said.
鈥淲hy did you write it? That鈥檚 why I said the lesson you should have learned today is do not generalize in your posts,鈥� Acop explained.
The tri-committee has been tasked to probe the spread of disinformation online after several resolutions were filed and privilege speeches about the matter were delivered.
READ: 40 socmed users, platform reps invited to House fake news probe聽
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers was one of the lawmakers who delivered a privilege speech following rumors about him and other chairpersons of the quad committee that investigated the Duterte administration鈥檚 drug war. The quad panel also probed illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operators.
Studies have shown that Filipinos, one of the more prevalent social media and internet users across the globe, are susceptible to misinformation and disinformation.
Just recently, House lawmakers called out fake news spreading on social media after former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and taken into custody by the International Criminal Court.
Some Duterte supporters have shared social media posts stating that the Supreme Court received a petition containing 16 million signatures, asking that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. step down from office.
The Office of the SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the high tribunal has not received any document bearing the title 鈥淪upreme Court Receives Petition on 16 Million Signatures Calling for President Marcos鈥� Resignation,鈥� adding that their office has not issued such a document.
READ: SC denies receiving Marcos resignation petition聽
SC also vowed to investigate these acts of disinformation and take necessary measures, 鈥漣ncluding the imposition of proper sanctions on those responsible.鈥�