Absent vloggers, social media users ordered to explain no-show at House disinformation hearing
MANILA, Philippines — The House Tri-Committee investigating the lack of regulations for social media platforms amid the spread of disinformation has issued a show cause order to multiple online content creators and vloggers.
During its first hearing on Tuesday, February 4, the committee invited around 40 vloggers and content creators to discuss the establishment of regulations and a code of ethics for posting content on social media.
However, only three attended, including political strategist Malou Tiquia. She was fact-checked for falsely claiming that the P51 billion requested by Rep. Paolo Duterte from 2020 to 2022 was not included in the General Appropriations Acts (GAA).
The joint panel reviewed excuse letters from absent invitees and moved to issue show cause orders to those who declined and argued that the hearing violated their freedom of speech. The lawmakers deemed their excuses as invalid.
A show cause order compels an individual to appear and justify why they should not face penalties.
Among those ordered to explain their absence were:
Rep. Joseph “Caraps” Paduano (Abang Lingkod Party-List) also requested the lower chamber’s legal department to examine the possibility of filing a disbarment case against Cruz-Angeles.
Some of these personalities also denied accusations of spreading disinformation or being funded by offshore scam hubs such as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Several of the invitees, who have amassed thousands of followers online, have been vocal supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his family, including Vice President Sara Duterte.
Some of them have already been fact-checked by organizations for being false, inaccurate, or misleading.
One of the recent false claims made involved the supposed presence of blank items in the 2025 GAA.
Abines spread this claim on Facebook, which was also shared other social media users, based on information and screenshot from Rodrigo and Rep. Isidro Ungab (Davao, 3rd District).
However, no blanks were found in the signed budget. House appropriations panel chair Stella Quimbo (Marikina, 2nd District) clarified that while some blanks appeared in the bicameral conference