A Filipino blogger and staunch supporter of former president Rodrigo Duterte distanced herself from the responsibility of her social media posts, claiming she merely writes what she feels.
Krizette Laureta Chu, who has over 250,000 followers on Facebook, made the statement during the House Tri-Committee’s third hearing on disinformation on Friday, March 21. She estimated that her posts reach about 10,000 views each, with her most popular ones being about Duterte.
Despite her significant online presence, Chu refused to call herself an influencer, saying her posts gain traction because they “resonate with the people.” When Rep. Jude Acidre (Tingog Party-list) asked about her level of influence and accountability, she responded that she was “not comfortable” being held responsible for her content.
“I do not feel any responsibility because my conscience is clear. It’s not phrased as news,” she said when questioned about a post referencing rumors of a mass resignation within the Philippine National Police (PNP)—a claim that had already been debunked.
Chu argued that her use of the word daw (an indicator of unverified information) in her post made it clear she was sharing hearsay. However, Acidre pointed out that she neither verified the claim nor corrected it after the PNP refuted the rumors.
While she maintained that her posts are based on personal opinions and that her readers are discerning enough to challenge her, lawmakers raised concerns about the spread of misinformation by social media figures who claim journalistic integrity but do not follow professional standards.
Acidre moved to subpoena Chu’s Facebook posts as part of the ongoing investigation into disinformation. The probe aims to establish ethical guidelines and push for stronger self-regulation among online platforms to curb the spread of false narratives.
