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Advocates Philippines
Ex-PCO Chief Trixie Cruz-Angeles, 10 Others In Hot Water For Snubbing Fake News Probe
Photo credit: Photo credit: Luminous by Trixie Cruz-Angeles & Ahmed Paglinawan
Looks like ignoring Congress isn't the best strategy. Former Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles and 10 other social media personalities are facing possible contempt and even detention for repeatedly skipping a House probe on fake news. The House Tri-Committee (Tri-Comm), which is leading the investigation, isn't messing around and is ready to take legal action against those who refuse to cooperate.
The probe, led by three House committees—Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology, and Public Information—aims to crack down on the spread of misleading and manipulative content online. Lawmakers issued show cause orders to Cruz-Angeles and her co-accused, including bloggers and social media influencers like Sass Sasot, Krizette Laureta Chu, and Lorraine Badoy-Partosa. But after being summoned multiple times, several of them still didn’t show up.
Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez made it clear that the probe isn't just about calling out influencers—it's about protecting national security. “Disinformation erodes public trust, destabilizes institutions, and manipulates democratic discourse. We can’t allow social media to become a free-for-all platform for deception and propaganda,” he said.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers emphasized that this isn't an attack on free speech. “We respect everyone’s right to express their opinions. This isn’t about silencing people—it’s about making sure false information doesn’t run rampant,” he clarified.
The upcoming hearing on Friday will bring in heavy hitters from the government and major tech companies like Google, Meta (Facebook), and TikTok. These platforms are under pressure to explain how they handle fake news and prevent the spread of disinformation. Officials from agencies like the DOJ, NBI, PNP, and AMLC will also weigh in on the issue.
With Congress tightening the reins on digital disinformation, it looks like social media personalities might have to start answering some tough questions—whether they like it or not.
The probe, led by three House committees—Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology, and Public Information—aims to crack down on the spread of misleading and manipulative content online. Lawmakers issued show cause orders to Cruz-Angeles and her co-accused, including bloggers and social media influencers like Sass Sasot, Krizette Laureta Chu, and Lorraine Badoy-Partosa. But after being summoned multiple times, several of them still didn’t show up.
Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez made it clear that the probe isn't just about calling out influencers—it's about protecting national security. “Disinformation erodes public trust, destabilizes institutions, and manipulates democratic discourse. We can’t allow social media to become a free-for-all platform for deception and propaganda,” he said.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers emphasized that this isn't an attack on free speech. “We respect everyone’s right to express their opinions. This isn’t about silencing people—it’s about making sure false information doesn’t run rampant,” he clarified.
The upcoming hearing on Friday will bring in heavy hitters from the government and major tech companies like Google, Meta (Facebook), and TikTok. These platforms are under pressure to explain how they handle fake news and prevent the spread of disinformation. Officials from agencies like the DOJ, NBI, PNP, and AMLC will also weigh in on the issue.
With Congress tightening the reins on digital disinformation, it looks like social media personalities might have to start answering some tough questions—whether they like it or not.
Mar 19, 2025
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