HOT CONTENT The House hearing on the spread of misinformation on social media attracts unusual on-site coverage鈥� from social media content creators. 鈥擭I脩O JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Social media personalities who were absent from last week鈥檚 House inquiry on fake news may be cited for contempt if they skip the next hearing, according to lawmakers.
The next hearing is tentatively set for April 8.
In a statement released on Sunday, Committee on Public Accounts Chairman Joseph Stephen Paduano was quoted saying during Friday鈥檚 hearing, 鈥淛ust to remind everyone鈥� resource persons and that includes all those resource personnel who are present in today鈥檚 hearing and maybe they鈥檙e monitoring this hearing, let me remind everyone that please don鈥檛 force us to cite you for contempt.鈥�
The joint hearing of the committees on public information, public order and safety, and information and communications technology also confirmed that subpoenas would be issued to 24 social media personalities who did not attend the previous hearing聽despite receiving show-cause orders.
They are the following:
- Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa
- Jeffrey Almendras 脟eliz,
- Allan Troy 鈥淪ass鈥� Rogando Sasot
- Alex Distor
- Alven L. Mortero
- Claire Eden Contreras
- Claro Ganac
- Cyrus Priglo
- Darwin Salceda
- Edwin Jamora
- Elmer Jugalbot
- Ernesto S. Abines Jr.
- Atty. Glen Chong
- Jeffrey G. Cruz
- Joe Smith Medina
- Jonathan Morales
- Julius Melanosi Maui
- Kester Ramon John Balibalos Tan
- Lord Byron Cristobal
- Ma. Florinda Espenilla-Duque
- Maricar Serrano
- Suzanne Batalla
- Mary Catherine Binag
- Vivian Zapata Rodriguez.
READ: Vloggers may face contempt if they skip House hearing anew 鈥� House reps
Only eight of the 11 social media personalities previously issued with subpoenas were present at Friday鈥檚 hearing.
According to former Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Sasot was in China and tried to join the hearing via Zoom. However, attending via Zoom is exclusively for House members.
鈥淟et it be clear to the resource persons, especially those not present today (Friday), in regards to the explanation relayed to you by Ms. Badoy鈥� ang mahalaga po dito (what is important)鈥� is the written explanation attached with all the documents that will prove that she is indeed abroad鈥� and the written explanation is valid,鈥� Paduano said.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel then issued a warning.
鈥淚f those personalities who already received subpoenas will not attend in the next hearing, this committee would be compelled to issue a contempt order,鈥� he said.