The prosecution team in the impeachment case involving Vice President Sara Duterte has warned of an expected surge in disinformation and distorted narratives as the proceedings move closer to full trial.
During a Senate briefing, members of the prosecution panel said online claims surrounding the pre-trial phase have already shown how quickly false or misleading narratives can spread, and cautioned that this may intensify once formal hearings begin.
“As the proceedings progress, we expect more disinformation, more fake news, and more factual distortions,” impeachment prosecution panel member and Mamamayan party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said, noting that public interpretation of court developments is increasingly being shaped by social media activity.
The warning comes amid competing narratives circulating online about recent pre-trial developments, which some posts have framed as tactical victories or defeats for either side—claims prosecutors say are not grounded in procedure.
She stressed that pre-trial proceedings are strictly procedural and do not involve rulings on the merits of the case, making public claims of “wins” or “losses” misleading.
The prosecution urged the public and media to exercise caution in assessing information related to the case, especially content sourced from unverified online accounts.
“This is a highly charged event,” she said, adding that attempts to influence perception through selective or distorted reporting are likely to continue.
The team also noted that certain actors may attempt to shape public understanding of developments in ways that could affect confidence in the process.
Despite this, prosecutors reiterated that preparations for trial remain on track, with pre-trial work continuing ahead of the scheduled start of formal hearings on July 6.