House committee issues subpoenas to pro-Duterte social media personalities

On February 18th, a joint House committee issued subpoenas to several pro-Duterte social media personalities who failed to attend the second hearing despite receiving show cause orders.

Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano emphasized that excuse letters from absent individuals were 'not acceptable and (not) valid'.

Those who did not appear include Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Krizette Laureta Chu, Sass Rogando Sasot, Mark Anthony Lopez, Lorraine Marie Badoy-Partosa, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz, Dr. Richard Mata, Ethel Pineda Garcia, Elizabeth Joi Cruz, Aaron Peña and Mary Jean Reyes.

Paduano warned that figures 'cannot use courts to subvert the constitutional mandate of the House of Representatives' and failure to attend could result in arrest warrants.

The committee aims to establish a legislative framework for regulating online content and setting a code of ethics for social media users to address digital misinformation.