NAGBABALA si House committee on public accounts chairman Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano ng Abang Lingkod Party-list sa mga pro-Duterte vloggers at influencers na hindi dumalo sa nakaraang pagdinig ng House tri-committee na maaaring mauwi sa kalaboso ang muli nilang hindi pagsipot sa imbestigasyon kaugnay ng fake news.

“Just to remind everyone… resource persons and that include all those resource personnel who are present in today’s (Friday) hearing and maybe they’re monitoring this hearing, let me remind everyone that please don’t force us to cite you in contempt,” ani Paduano.

Ang susunod na pagdinig ay itinakda sa Abril 8 bagama’t maaari pa itong baguhin ng komite.

Sa joint hearing ng House committees on public information, public order and safety, at information and communications technology, kinumpirma ang paglalabas ng subpoena sa 24 na personalidad na hindi dumalo kahit na nakatanggap na sila ng show-cause orders mula sa komite para dumalo sa pagdinig at ipaliwanag ang kanilang pag-absent.

Kabilang sa mga hindi dumalo at inisyuhan na ng subpoena sina Lorraine Marie Tablang Badoy-Partosa, Jeffrey Almendras Celiz at Allan Troy “Sass” Rogando Sasot—mga kilalang pro-Duterte influencers at bloggers.

Kasama rin sa listahan sina 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 at Vivian Zapata Rodriguez.

“Mr. Chairman…may I respectfully move that we issue a subpoena ad testificandum for all those mentioned names by the chairman,” pahayag ni Paduano sa pinakahuling pagdinig ng komite. “So move, Mr. Chair.”

Sinegundahan naman ni Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop ang mosyon at inaprubahan ito ni Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, isa sa co-chair ng tri-comm, matapos na walang miyembro na nagpahayag ng pagtutol.

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

Dagdag pa niya, sa 11 indibidwal na unang nabigyan ng subpoena, walo lamang ang sumipot.

“The following three resource persons did not attend—Badoy, Celiz and Sasot,” wika ni Pimentel. “May we inform those mentioned that have been issued subpoena that the subpoena is still in effect.”

Sinabi ni dating Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles na nasa China si Sasot at tinangkang sumali sa pamamagitan ng Zoom.

Nilinaw ni Pimentel na ayon sa panuntunan, ang Zoom link ay eksklusibo lamang para sa mga miyembro ng Kamara.

Paalala pa ni Paduano sa mga hindi dumalo, kailangan nilang magsumite ng dokumentasyon bilang katibayan.

“Let it be clear to the resource persons, especially those not present today (Friday), in regard to the explanation relayed to you by Ms. Badoy… ang mahalaga po dito, Attorney, is the written explanation attached with all the documents that will prove that she is indeed abroad… and the written explanation is valid,” ani Paduano.

“As of now, we will accept all those documents that you will submit to the secretariat, but still Ms. Badoy and Ms. Sasot…should still make a written explanation and submit to the committee before the next hearing,” dagdag pa niya.

Nagbigay naman si Pimentel ng final warning sa mga patuloy na bumabalewala sa imbitasyon ng tri-comm.

“If those personalities that already received subpoenas will not attend in the next hearing, this committee would be compelled to issue a contempt order,” aniya.

Nagbabala rin si Paduano laban sa anumang pagbatikos sa komite pagkatapos ng pagdinig.

“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),” banta ng mambabatas.

Dagdag pa niya, naipatupad na ito ng kanyang komite noon.

“We have already done that in my committee when a blocktimer 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,” babala ni Paduano.

Kung mababago umano ang schedule ng pagdinig ng komite ay ipapaalam ito sa mga inimbitahan.