Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz (left) and Lorraine Badoy (PPAB)

SMNI program anchor Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz confidently invoked the Sotto Law and repeatedly told congressmen that they weren't about the law. 

This was the scene during the Dec. 5 hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, where Celiz was once again asked to name his source for the allegation that Speaker Martin Romualdez had spent P1.8 billion on his travels. 

That allegation was already proven to be baloney in an earlier hearing on Nov. 30, when Celiz also tried to invoke the Sotto Law. 

Republic Act (RA) No. 53 or the Sotto Law exempts publishers, editors, or reporters from revealing the news source or information obtained in confidence. 

But Celiz, one of the anchors of the program "Laban Kasama Ang Bayan", apparently can't hide behind the particular statute due to a key omission. 

According to committee chairman Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting, Celiz was "not an accredited media practitioner” as he had no accreditation of any kind to prove to the solons that he was indeed one. Because of this, he can't invoke the law. 

Besides, Tambunting said the panel already afforded him all the leeway to exercise his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel. 

Celiz himself admitted during the Nov. 30 hearing that his source provided him with the wrong information on Romualdez's travel expenses. He even apologized to the Speaker and the House. 

READ THIS: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/5/do-not-challenge-us-barbers-puts-defiant-celiz-in-his-place

When the Dec. 5 hearing came, the SMNI anchor came with a more defiant attitude and told the panel that he wanted to restate information that he gave during the previous hearing. 

Celiz has already given the following details about his source on P1.8-billion travel spree claim: 

- The source is male
- He is a fellow former New People's Army (NPA) member
- He works at the Senate
- he is a longtime source 

Celiz and co-anchor Lorraine Badoy are currently held in detention at the House of Representatives as they were cited in contempt by the House panel.