Influencers, vloggers snub House probe, seek SC intervention

Only three of the 41 online personalities invited by the tri-committee of the House of Representatives attended yesterday's hearing about the proliferation of fake news, earning the ire of lawmakers who were forced to issue show-cause orders.

- DELON PORCALLA

All of the absentees, according to presiding chairman Rep. Dan Fernandez, submitted "excuse letters," while one - Trixie Cruz-Angeles who served as President Marcos' first press secretary - questioned the legality of the chamber's deliberations.

"I respectfully decline this invitation as I question the legality of the inquiry as well as the proposed legislation for being violative of the constitutional guarantee of free speech," Fernandez quoted Angeles as saying in her letter.

"She is an officer of the court, and she should respect the constitutional duty of Congress. I move that we will consult the legal department of this House for a possible disbarment case against Attorney Angeles," Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said.

Paduano's first move was to issue a show-cause order for Angeles to personally appear at their next hearing, along with so-called "influencers" Elizabeth Cruz (Joie De Vivre online), Krizette Lauretta Chu, Mark Anthony Lopez, Jun Abines Jr., Richard Tesoro Mata, Aaron Peña, Suzanne Batalla (IamShanwein) and Ethel Pineda Garcia.

A show-cause order compels an individual to appear and justify why he or she should not face penalties.