THE House Tri-Committee (Tri-Com) on Tuesday cited four prominent social media personalities in contempt for ignoring subpoenas and interfering with an ongoing congressional inquiry into online disinformation and coordinated narrative manipulation.
Cited were Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, Mark Anthony Lopez, Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa and Jeffrey Almendras Celiz. The first three were absent despite multiple summons, while Lopez, who attended a previous hearing, was cited for issuing public statements attacking the committee.
Sasot, Badoy and Celiz will be detained in the House premises until the committee hearing is terminated.
“Mr. Jeffrey Celiz, Ms. Badoy,’and Ms. Sasot violated section 11 paragraph A, may I respectfully move that the three mentioned name be detained until the committee hearing will be terminated and be detained in the premises of the House,” Paduano said.
Lopez will be detained for 10 days at the House of Representatives.
“Now, Mr. Chairman, for the second motion, in the case of Mr. Mark Anthony Lopez under our rules in violation of letter F is only maximum of 10 days,” said Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts.
“So with that, Mr. Chairman, I move that Mr. Mark Anthony Lopez be detained in the premises of the House for 10 days,” he said.
The committee adopted the motion without objection.
Paduano earlier cited Lopez for violating internal rules on undue interference in congressional inquiries.
“Mr. Chairman, with this blog made by Mr. Mark Lopez, Mr. Chairman, this is in violation of once again section 11 paragraph F of our internal rules, undue interference during the proceedings, Mr. Chairman, or committee investigation,” he said.
He quoted portions of Lopez’s blog, saying it sought to discredit the panel.
“It was blatantly used that there was a concerted effort to humiliate us and bring us down on our knees,” he read. “Even mainstream media are gleefully celebrating and pouncing on our forced breakdown and takedown in Tri-Comm hearing,” he read.
Paduano said Lopez had been warned during the previous session.
“Mr. Chairman, I already warned all those resource persons that be cautious not to issue statements maligning, attacking the ongoing investigation.”
Paduano first cited Sasot for repeatedly refusing to attend the hearings.
“We have invited her during the first hearing, and this is now the fourth hearing, Mr. Chairman,” he said. “Since four invitations and that includes a subpoena ad testificandum for Ms. Sasot, may I respectfully move, Mr. Chairman, that we cite in contempt Ms. Sasot,” Paduano said.
He also moved to have government agencies verify her whereabouts.
“May I respectfully move that we will ask the DFA and the Bureau of Immigration for the status, recent status of Ms. Sassot and for the two agencies to report to this committee ASAP,” Paduano said.
Celiz, according to Paduano, was also served multiple notices.
“A subpoena ad testificandum was also issued to Celiz. And an invitation, a show-cause order, a subpoena and a subpoena ad testificandum was issued to him but still he is not present in today’s (Tuesday) hearing,” Paduano said.
He asked that the DFA and immigration bureau confirm Celiz’s travel status.
“I respectfully move that we will direct the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Information to the status of Mr. Celiz,” Paduano said.
Badoy was cited in contempt as well, despite submitting travel documents indicating she was in Hong Kong.
“May I respectfully move that we cite in contempt Ms. Badoy Partosa in violation of section 11 paragraph A of our internal rules for refusal to answer summons without legal excuse,” Paduano said.
The Tri-Com is composed of the House Committees on Public Information, Public Order and Safety and Information and Communications Technology.
It is conducting a series of hearings into the role of social media in the coordinated spread of disinformation and narrative manipulation.
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