The House of Representatives’ Tri-Committee (Tri-Comm) should also invite pro-administration social media influencers and vloggers in their investigation on the prevalence of fake news, reelectionist Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said.
As it is, Dela Rosa noted that the Tri-Comm’s hearing is only focused on the so-called “DDS” or Diehard Duterte Supporter vloggers.
The Mindanaoan senator said it is high-time the Tri-Comm should ensure that its inquiry is “free from politics.”
“Kasi kung interesado talaga sila na bibigyan ng solusyon ‘yung sinasabi nilang fake news or what kung ano talaga ‘yung objective ng kanilang investigation, kung ito’y hindi panggigipit sa mga vloggers na kritikal to the administration ay dapat imbitahan nila lahat-lahat pati na ‘yung mga vloggers na favoring the administration (Because if they are really interested in giving a solution to what they say is fake news, or whatever is their objective in this investigation, and if it’s not to pressure vloggers who are critical of the administration, then they should invite everyone, including vloggers who favor the administration),” Dela Rosa said in an interview with Radyo Natin Romblon on Thursday, February 20.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, who was famous for implementing the Duterte administration’s “Oplan Tokhang” or the war on drugs, said he is waiting to see if the ongoing hearings are in aid of legislation or “in aid of persecution” of pro-Duterte vloggers who have been critical of the Marcos government.
“Lahat dapat fair. Hindi lang (They should be fair. Don’t just invite the) DDS. They don’t have to single out the DDS vloggers. Lahat dapat eh imbitahan nila para magkaalaman kung talagang ito’y (They should invite everyone so we would know if this is truly) in aid of legislation,” he said.
“(If it’s) investigation in aid of legislation to address the proliferation of fake news then gawin nilang patas (they should be fair),” the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial candidate stressed.
“Pero kung maka-zero in lang sila sa mga (but if they would just zero-in on) Duterte vloggers, mga DDS vloggers then halatang (those DDS vloggers then it is obvious) that would be investigation in aid of persecution of the DDS vloggers,” Dela Rosa said in another interview.
Last Tuesday, the Tri-Comm issued subpoenas to personalities perceived to be pro-Duterte, including Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Krizette Laureta Chu, Sass Rogando Sasot, Mark Anthony Lopez, Lorraine Marie Badoy-Partosa, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz (Eric Celiz), Dr. Richard Mata, Ethel Pineda Garcia, Joie De Vivre (Elizabeth Joi Cruz), Aaron Peña and Mary Jean Reyes.
The said vloggers did not attend the hearing despite receiving show cause orders.