THE House Tri-Committee (TriComm) on Tuesday issued show cause orders against several social media personalities, including former Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) chief Trixie Cruz-Angeles, for refusing to attend a congressional hearing on the rampant spread of fake news and online disinformation.
TriComm, composed of the House Committees on Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology, and Public Information, convened to discuss proposed remedial regulations aimed at curbing the proliferation of misinformation on social media platforms.
Among those issued show cause orders were Elizabeth Joie Cruz (known online as Joie De Vivre), Krizette Lauretta Chu, Mark Anthony Lopez, Jun Abines Jr., Dr. Richard Tesoro Mata, Aaron Peña, Suzanne Batalla (IamShanwein), Ethel Pineda, and Cruz-Angeles.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante initiated the motion to issue a show cause order against Cruz, stating, “I dare to make a motion, Mr. Chair, that we issue a show cause order on this Elizabeth Cruz,” which was swiftly approved.
Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano also moved for a show cause order against Abines, citing the invalidity of his excuse letter.
“With that excuse letter, Mr. Chairman, I found it not valid, and I move to issue a show cause order for that Jun,” he declared, with the motion immediately gaining approval.
Mark Anthony Lopez faced the same order after submitting a lengthy letter rejecting the invitation and questioning the hearing’s legal basis. Krizette Lauretta Chu also refused to attend, submitting a four-page letter justifying her absence, which the committee found unsatisfactory.
The hearing took a more serious turn when addressing the defiant response of Cruz-Angeles, who outright rejected the committee’s invitation, claiming the inquiry was unconstitutional. Lawmakers expressed outrage, with Paduano questioning her professional integrity:
“Is she a lawyer?” Paduano asked before moving to issue a show cause order against her. “Mr. Chairman, I have two motions. My motion is to issue a show cause order to Atty. Trixie Angeles,” he declared, a motion that was seconded and approved without objection.
Beyond the show cause order, Paduano also filed a motion to refer Cruz-Angeles’ case to the House legal department for possible disbarment proceedings.
“She is an officer of the court… and she should respect the constitutional duty of Congress. I respectfully move that we consult the legal department of this House for a possible disbarment case against Atty. Trixie Angeles,” Paduano said. The motion was again seconded and approved without objection.
Abante echoed Paduano’s stance, calling for the same measures to be applied to the other personalities who defied the congressional summons.
Meanwhile, Aaron Peña, who denied any links to POGO operators and drug lords, also refused to attend the hearing. His refusal prompted another successful motion from Paduano to issue a show cause order.
The TriComm emphasized that attendance at congressional hearings is not merely a request but a legal obligation, and continued defiance could lead to legal consequences for those involved.
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