Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen "Caraps" Paduano (PPAB)

ABANG LINGKOD Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano may be the object of fear of invited resource persons to House quad-committee (quad-comm). But that doesn't mean he can't show his proverbial fangs in tri-committee (tri-comm) hearing.

Paduano did just that during the latest tri-comm hearing over the weekend wherein he practically issued an ultimatum to certain pro-Duterte vloggers and social media personalities.

"Just to remind everyone… resource persons and that include all those resource personnel who are present in today’s hearing and maybe they’re monitoring this hearing, let me remind everyone that please don’t force us to cite you in contempt,” said the no-nonsense solon.

The tri-comm, which had been holding an inquiry on the spread of fake news and disinformation online, held its third hearing on the matter last Friday, March 21. The next hearing is tentatively set for April 8.

The are certain invited vloggers who have yet to face the solons in even one hearing. These are prime candidates for contempt citation, according to Paduano.

Being citied for contempt comes with an arrest order from the tri-comm, which like the quad-comm is a quasi-judicial body,

Among those who failed to attend and are now facing subpoenas--or strong-worded summons--are prominent pro-Duterte influencers and bloggers Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, Jeffrey Almendras Çeliz, and Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot. 

The tri-comm also ordered to issue subpoenas against Alex Distor, Alven L. Mortero, Claire Eden Contreras, Claro Ganac, Cyrus Priglo, Darwin Salceda, Edwin Jamora, Elmer Jugalbot, Ernesto S. Abines Jr., Atty. Glen Chong, Jeffrey G. Cruz, Joe Smith Medina, Jonathan Morales, Julius Melanosi Maui, Kester Ramon John Balibalos Tan, Lord Byron Cristobal, Ma. Florinda Espenilla-Duque, Maricar Serrano, Suzanne Batalla, Mary Catherine Binag, and Vivian Zapata Rodriguez. 

“Mr. Chairman… may I respectfully move that we issue a subpoena ad testificandum for all those mentioned names by the chairman,” said Paduano during the hearing. 

The motion was seconded by Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop and subsequently approved by Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel, who presided the tri-comm hearing.

“The motion is approved and the chair hereby directs the committee secretary to issue subpoenas to the mentioned resource persons,” Pimentel declared.

He added that of the 11 others previously issued subpoenas, only eight attended. 

“The following three resource persons did not attend – Badoy, Celiz and Sasot,” said Pimentel, who added that their subpoenas "[are] still in effect".

Former press secretary-turned-Marcos administration critic Trixie Cruz-Angeles informed the tri-comm that “Ms. Rogando Sasot is in China and she attempted to join today (Friday) as discussed earlier via Zoom, she cannot return to the country.”

Pimentel clarified that Zoom link is exclusively for House members joining the hearing. Paduano, for his part, said that documentation must still be submitted. 

Pimentel then reiterated the final warning againt the snubbers: “If those personalities that already received subpoenas will not attend in the next hearing, this committee would be compelled to issue a contempt order."

Paduano, a former House minority leader, also cautioned against post-hearing attacks on the committee. “Just to remind you – Section 11 of our internal rules, Paragraph F – we will not allow discussions or attacking, insulting this committee hearing after the suspension of this hearing because you will be in violation… we will be forced to cite you in contempt (undue interference)."

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He added that his own panel, the Committee on Public Accounts, had already taken such action in the past. 

“We have already done that in my committee when a block timer from Cagayan, Bombo Radyo Cagayan, was cited in contempt because after the hearing he attacks the results of the committee hearing. Please be reminded po,” Paduano said.

Paduano is a co-chairman of the quad-comm, which is investigation the alleged interconnected issues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), the Duterte administration's war on drugs, extrajudicial killings (EJKs), and money-laundering.

Among the personalities cited for contempt by Paduano during the course of the hearings were POGO personalities Alice Guo and Cassandra Ong, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Wilkins Villanueva, and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Superintendent Gerardo Padilla.