MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives will begin its probe on the spread of fake news and disinformation on Tuesday, February 4, with a new mega panel.
The House “Tri-Comm” — composed of the committees on public order and safety, public information, and information and communications technology — will be presided by Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez. The Tri-Comm invited 40 online personalities and representatives of social media platforms to attend the first hearing.
“Hindi natin hahayaang gamitin ang social media upang linlangin ang ating mga kababayan,” Fernandez said in a statement on Sunday, February 2.
(We cannot allow social media be used to trick our countrymen.)
Those invited are notably pro-Duterte personalities led by the likes of former broadcaster Jay Sonza, bloggers Sass Rogando Sasot, Mark Anthony Lopez, Lord Byron Cristobal (Banat By), and Krizette Lauretta Chu, actress-turned-blogger Vivian Zapata Rodriguez (Vivian Velez), former press secretary-turned-blogger Trixie Cruz-Angeles, and red-tagger Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, who was cited in contempt by the same chamber in 2023 for lying during an inquiry.
Badoy’s SMNI co-host, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz, also made the guest list. The two were previously got in trouble after airing unverified information on the travel spending of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The rest of the social media personalities the House Tri-Comm invited includes:
- Malou Tiquia
- MJ Quiambao Reyes
- Ethel Pineda
- Alex Destor (Tio Moreno)
- Aaron Peña (Old School Pinoy)
- Glen Chong
- Manuel Mata Jr. (Kokolokoy)
- Elizabeth Joie Cruz (Joie De Vivre)
- Claro Ganac
- Claire Eden Contreras (Maharlika Boldyakera)
- Jonathan Morales
- Cyrus Preglo (Optics Politics)
- Maricar Serrano
- Ernesto S. Abines Jr. (Jun Abines)
- Julius Melanosi Maui (Maui Spencer)
- Darwin Salceda (Boss Dada TV)
- Elmer Jugalbot (Eb Jugalbot)
- Cathy Binag
- MJ Mondejar
- Suzanne Batalla (IamShanwein)
- Joe Smith Medina (Political Witch Boy)
- Jeffrey G. Cruz (JCCO / JJ Cruz)
- Alven L. Montero
- Kester Ramon John Balibalos Tan (Mr Realtalker)
- Edwin Jamora (Reyna Elena)
- Ma Florinda Espenilla-Duque (Pebbles Duque)
- Dr. Richard Tesoro Mata (Dr. Richard and Erika Mata)
- Ahmed Paglinawan (Luminous by Trixie & Ahmed)
- Ryan Lingo
- Atty. Enzo Recto (Atty. Ricky Tomotorgo)
- Ross Flores Del Rosario (Wazzup Philippines)
The lower chamber has also invited representatives from Google, Meta (Facebook), and ByteDance (TikTok). Platforms such as Facebook and Tiktok have been the breeding grounds for disinformation in the Philippines — from false claims about health and wellness to spreading information that causes fear and confusion.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of Justice are also expected to discuss regulatory and enforcement challenges during the hearing.
In 2022, a Social Weather Stations survey found that 51% of Filipinos said it was difficult to spot fake news on television, radio, or social media. The majority or 67% of the respondents noted that the problem of fake news on the internet is serious.
Bad actors are now also using artificial intelligence to confuse, manipulate, and scam the public online. (READ: Philippines faces rising AI-driven disinformation)
Lawmakers plan on exploring how to make platforms more accountable as well as imposing fines for repeat offenders. They are also looking at improving digital literacy programs in the country.
“Panahon na upang maipatupad ang mas mahigpit na batas upang labanan ang fake news at disinformation,” Fernandez said.
(Now is the time to implement stricter laws to combat the spread of fake news and disinformation.) – with a report from Dwight de Leon/Rappler.com