MANILA — Vloggers Krizette Chu and MJ Quiambao Reyes tearfully apologized during a congressional hearing amid allegations that they played a role in spreading false claims about hoax drug war killings and mass police resignations following former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.

Both acknowledged that their previous posts were based on “opinions” and “impressions” rather than verified information. The claims they shared, which circulated widely on social media, were alleged to be part of a broader disinformation campaign portraying Duterte as a victim and misrepresenting the legal proceedings surrounding his arrest.

Several prominent Philippine vloggers, including former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, appeared before the House of Representatives after missing two previous hearings. Among those present were Krizette Laureta Chu, MJ Quiambao Reyes, Elizabeth Joie Cruz, Dr. Richard Mata, Dr. Ethel Pineda Garcia, Mark Anthony Lopez, and Aeron Peña.

The vloggers, who have faced scrutiny over accusations of spreading misinformation and disinformation online, took an oath to tell the truth during the session. Their attendance came after warnings from lawmakers, including tri-committee co-chairperson Rep. Dan Fernandez, who cautioned that social media influencers could face contempt charges if they continued to evade the hearings.

The vloggers’ public apology came amid mounting pressure from lawmakers and the public, as the spread of alleged misinformation had significant implications for public discourse and the ongoing legal proceedings related to Duterte.

Alleged Misinformation Targets Duterte’s Legal Case

Following Duterte’s arrest, multiple unverified claims surfaced online, including allegations that the Supreme Court had received a petition with 16 million signatures demanding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s resignation. The Office of the Supreme Court swiftly debunked this claim, clarifying that no such petition had been filed.

Other narratives on social media sought to frame Duterte’s arrest as an act of “kidnapping” and attempted to downplay the severity of the charges against him. These claims, which officials and fact-checkers have disputed, misled the public and targeted the families of extrajudicial killing victims, as well as the judges handling the case.

The government has repeatedly urged Filipinos to be vigilant in distinguishing real news from false or misleading information, particularly given the widespread use of social media in the country.

Notably absent from the hearing were vloggers Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz, and former PCO Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy-Partosa, all of whom had previously been warned about potential contempt charges for failing to attend.

Lawmakers Push for Social Media Regulation

During the hearing, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, one of the lawmakers who claimed to have been targeted by disinformation campaigns, called for a regulatory framework for social media platforms. He argued that these platforms should be held to ethical standards similar to those followed by mainstream media and legitimate news organizations.

“There’s a need to establish a set of rules, just like the standards that mainstream media follow,” Barbers said, emphasizing how false or misleading narratives influence public perception of lawmakers and key political figures.

This proposal has been discussed in previous hearings, with the tri-committee suggesting a code of ethics to regulate social media content, particularly when it involves unverified claims or narratives that could mislead the public.

Vloggers Address Concerns on Misinformation

Some vloggers at the hearing acknowledged the issue of online disinformation. Reyes and Garcia emphasized the need for credible sources, while Reyes called for stronger media literacy efforts to help Filipinos distinguish truth from falsehoods.

Dr. Mata, a pediatrician and health vlogger, suggested forming an independent regulatory body, similar to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), to guide social media influencers and address controversial content.

📷 Screengrab from House of Representatives FB