The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ruled that an invitation from the House of Representatives to vloggers to appear as resource persons in a legislative inquiry does not violate their right to free speech.
The decision came after a petition filed by several vloggers claimed the inquiry—focused on the spread of misinformation online—suppressed their expression and subjected them to humiliation. The Supreme Court dismissed their plea, noting that the invitation did not force or punish them for what they said; it simply sought their input.
The Court reaffirmed that while freedom of expression is protected under the Constitution, Congress retains the authority to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation. As long as such processes don’t impose prior restraint or punitive measures directly targeting speech, they are consistent with constitutional rights.