The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte has become a battle between facts presented before the Senate impeachment court and false narratives circulating on social media, a House prosecutor said.
House prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua urged Filipinos to follow the proceedings firsthand instead of relying on unverified online posts.
Chua said the prosecution remains focused on presenting evidence before the impeachment court despite the spread of disinformation surrounding the case.
“Alam mo, kami sa prosecution, ‘yung katotohanan lang ang gusto namin,” Chua said during a press briefing.
“Kaya nga dito pa lang makikita mo kung anong klase ‘yung laban na ’to. Ito ay laban ng katotohanan at laban ng fake news,” added Chua, chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
He encouraged the public to watch the impeachment proceedings and assess the evidence based on what is actually presented before the Senate.
“Kaya nga po hinihikayat natin ‘yung mga kababayan natin na subaybayan ang impeachment trial nang sa ganun ay hindi sila mapepeke,” he said.
Veteran lawyer Lorna Kapunan, one of the counsels for the House prosecutors, said the growing number of troll attacks and personal criticisms against the prosecution panel reflects “desperation” rather than genuine public support.
“Kung dumadami ’yung mga trolls, I think that is a sign of desperation. Frustrated na sila,” Kapunan said.
She said advances in technology allow a small number of individuals to create the impression of widespread online support.
“Alam naman natin na sa technology ngayon, ’yung isang troll… pwedeng isang tao lang ’yan eh, magiging 500,000 na ’yan,” she said.
Kapunan also noted that online attacks have shifted away from legal arguments and are increasingly targeting members of the prosecution panel personally.
“Hindi na ’yung arguments, legal arguments, o kung anong nangyari. Tinitira na nila personal na,” she said.
Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V, who is also part of the House prosecution team, said he is no longer bothered by troll attacks, noting that many Filipinos have become more discerning and are better able to distinguish coordinated disinformation from legitimate public discourse.
“’Pag sinabi na ng tao, ‘troll, fake news ’yan,’ tumatawa na lang ’yung tao. Medyo hindi na masyadong kinakagat,” Ortega said.
He expressed confidence that the facts presented before the impeachment court would eventually prevail over online misinformation.
“Sabi ko nga, wala namang tatalo sa… the truth is true, and the truth is real. So doon natin po pagbabasehan ’yan,” Ortega said.