By Ian Gabriel Trinidad
Members of the House of Representatives questioned several vloggers on Friday, including some linked to the camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte, during an inquiry on the spread of fake news and disinformation online.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the House Tri-Committee warned that the 11 social media personalities invited to attend the hearing could face contempt and detention if they continue ignoring the summons.
Eight out of the 11 vloggers listed by the Tri-Committee attended the Friday hearing.
These included former Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Elizabeth Joie Cruz (Joie De Vivre), Mark Anthony Lopez, Krizette Laureta Chu, Richard Mata, Aeron Peña (Old School Pinoy) Mary Jane “MJ” Quiambao Reyes and Ethel Pineda Garcia.
“I do not feel any responsibility”
During an interpolation, House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre questioned Krizette Laureta Chu on her social media posts, particularly on the claim that police and military officers mass-resigned after former President Duterte’s arrest on an International Criminal Court warrant on March 11, 2025.
Acidre asked Chu about her sources, with the latter claiming she got the information from short-form video platform TikTok.
“So you just posted on the basis of a single, two or three posts?” Acidre asked.
“Yes, sir. I will not count it, but there is a general impression,” the social media personality answered.
When asked if she tried to verify the reports, Chu said “there were already policemen … on TikTok that are voicing out their feelings (on Duterte’s arrest).”
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Major General Nicolas Torre III clarified there were no “massive” resignations following ex-President Duterte’s arrest.
“You feel no responsibility whatsoever to the readers you have who may be influenced by the opinions you raised. You really don’t care what people will do or say or think after reading your post?” the lawmaker asked.
“I do not feel responsibility because my conscience is clear. It was not phrased as news,” Chu insisted.
The vlogger then said she would write about Torre’s statement regarding the mass resignation rumour. She also apologised for her posts about congressmen’s children allegedly living lavishly and the government’s allocation of an aid programme for the poor, when questioned by Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante.
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“That is my truth”
Abante, the head of the House Committee on Human Rights, then probed Quiambao on her posts claiming that the victims of ex-President Duterte’s drug war were a “massive hoax.”
“Did you attend Quad-Committee hearings? The victims of EJKs (extrajudicial killings) are there, (and) they even held a prayer rally,” Abante pointed out.
“That is my truth, those are my opinions and it was based on available information,” Quiambao insisted.
Abang Lingkod Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano then reiterated that Quiambao’s claims were “baseless” because resource persons at the Quad-Committee hearings confirmed the EJKs during Duterte’s term.
“I apologise, and, as I’ve said earlier, I will look for [documents] under oath,” Quiambao said.
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