No fewer than 40 social media personalities have been invited to the House of Representatives for the very first Tri-Committee hearing on Tuesday to probe the propagation of disinformation or fake news in the country.
The Committees on Public Order and Safety; Public Information; and Information and Communications Technology will be conducting the inquiry, with Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, Chair of the Public Order and Safety panel, at its helm.
Fernandez said in a statement issued on Sunday that the investigation aims to address the manner by which disinformation is disseminated online and its influence on the public’s understanding and on national security and to seek out the means to counter it. He added that Filipinos deserve the truth and to be shielded from peddlers of fake news which cause fear and division.
Officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have also been called to discuss policy constraints and regulatory tools to combat fake news online.
The following online personalities, known for their political commentary, have been summoned as resource persons at the Tri Committee:
- Malou Tiquia
- Jose Yumang Sonza
- Krizette Lauretta Chu
- Mark Anthony Lopez
- Allan Troy Rogando (Sass Sasot)
- MJ Quiambao Reyes
- Vivian Zapata Rodriguez
- Ethel Pineda
- Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa
- Jeffrey Almendras Celiz
- Lord Byron Cristobal (Banat By)
- 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)
- Atty. Trixie Cruz Angeles
- 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)
Representatives of companies such as Google, Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), and ByteDance (owner of TikTok) will also be in attendance.
