The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has disowned its earlier claim that the House of Representatives called on Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg to appear at a congressional hearing, even as the agency urged the media to avoid misinformation.
In a clarification issued Sunday, Sept. 21, the DICT said no House resolution had been issued directing or inviting Zuckerberg to appear before lawmakers.
“The DICT confirms that no House resolution was issued directing or inviting Meta or its Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, to appear before the House in relation to the hearing,” the agency said.
The statement contradicted an advisory released on Wednesday, Sept. 16, through the DICT’s official channels, which was prominently labeled “Breaking News.”
“House calls on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to face DICT in House hearing on social media safety,” the original advisory declared.
The DICT also stated categorically in the body of the advisory: “The House of Representatives of the Philippines has called on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to face the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) during a House hearing on social media safety.”
It added that the supposed hearing would address harmful online content, platform accountability, and measures to improve online safety for Filipino users.
Several media organizations subsequently reported the supposed congressional call based on the DICT’s own announcement.
The agency’s clarification, however, did not acknowledge that the claim originated from its official communication channels. It also did not explain how the erroneous information was released or whether the earlier advisory had been withdrawn.
Instead, the DICT blamed and called on journalists and the public to verify information with official sources.
“The DICT encourages the public and the media to refer to official records, proceedings, and statements from the House of Representatives and the Department to ensure accurate reporting and avoid misinformation regarding the budget deliberations,” it said.
The agency clarified that what the House had actually done was defer deliberations on the DICT’s proposed budget pending its submission of additional information and documents requested by lawmakers.
“The DICT is currently consolidating and addressing these requirements and will present the requested information during the continuation of the budget hearing,” it said.
The clarification did not state whether any individual lawmaker informally proposed inviting Zuckerberg, as distinct from the House issuing a formal resolution.
The DICT’s original advisory attributed the call to the House as an institution and presented the claim as breaking news without mentioning that no formal invitation or resolution existed.
