EMPTY SEATS AS SOME SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITIES SKIP HOUSE HEARING ON FAKE NEWS Several invited social media personalities were noticeably absent from the House Tripartite Committee hearing on fake news and disinformation on Tuesday, February 4, leaving empty seats in the much-anticipated inquiry. The House of Representatives invited at least 40 social media personalities as resource persons for the hearing, conducted by the Committees on Public Order and Safety, Public Information, and Information and Communications Technology. The inquiry aims to examine how disinformation spreads online, its impact on public perception and national security, and the measures needed to counter it. Santa Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez, who is presiding over the session, previously underscored the importance of addressing fake news and protecting Filipinos from misleading information. "Ang mga Pilipino ay may karapatan sa katotohanan. Dapat protektahan natin ang ating mga kababayan laban sa maling impormasyong nagdudulot ng takot at pagkakawatak-watak sa ating lipunan," Fernandez said. The invited resource persons are known for their influence on social media platforms, engaging in political discourse, news analysis, and online commentary. Among those invited were Malou Tiquia, Jose Yumang Sonza, Krizette Lauretta Chu, Mark Anthony Lopez, Sass Rogando Sasot, MJ Quiambao Reyes, Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, and Lord Byron Cristobal (Banat By), among others. Representatives from major tech companies, including Google, Meta (Facebook), and ByteDance (TikTok), as well as officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Justice (DOJ), were also present to discuss regulatory challenges and enforcement mechanisms against digital disinformation. Fernandez stressed that the inquiry aims to identify weaknesses in existing laws governing digital platforms and propose measures to ensure Filipinos have access to accurate and reliable information. "Hindi natin hahayaang gamitin ang social media upang linlangin ang ating mga kababayan. Panahon na upang maipatupad ang mas mahigpit na batas upang labanan ang fake news at disinformation," he said. Lawmakers are expected to push for stronger platform accountability, penalties for repeat offenders, and improved digital literacy programs to help Filipinos critically evaluate online content. The hearing is livestreamed for public viewing, with Congress aiming to spark a national discussion on responsible online discourse and social media’s role in shaping public perception. 📷 @laiteranidaddy on X (formerly Twitter)