TWO vloggers from Cagayan de Oro City are set to be issued subpoenas by the House of Representatives’ tri-committee investigating the spread of fake news on social media, after failing to appear at a hearing on April 8.
Rep. Johnny Pimentel, the presiding officer, said that subpoenas will be served to Alvin Curay, Kristine Claud Curay, and one other unnamed individual. All three had previously been issued show cause orders but did not attend the hearing.
“They were already issued show cause orders, but they still did not appear,” said Pimentel during Monday’s session.
Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano formally moved to subpoena the individuals to compel their appearance in the next hearing.
The tri-committee resumed its inquiry into the proliferation of false and malicious online content, which lawmakers say is misleading the public and eroding trust in legitimate media.
Media personality and former Vice President Noli de Castro appeared as a resource person and shared personal accounts of being targeted by fake news.
Other vloggers and influencers who attended the hearing included Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Richard Tesoro Mata, Elizabeth Joie Cruz, Krizette Chu, Alven Montero, Ethel Pineda-Garcia, George Ahmed Paglinawan, Jonathan Morales, and Vicente Bencalo ‘Pebbles’ Cunanan, among others.
The investigation is part of the government’s broader effort to address misinformation and protect the public from online disinformation campaigns.
