Private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan described the growing wave of troll activity and personal attacks against the House prosecution panel as a “sign of desperation,” saying the online campaign seeks to divert attention from the evidence being presented in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Kapunan said the rising number of troll accounts should not be treated as a reflection of genuine public sentiment.
“Kung dumadami ’yung mga trolls, I think that is a sign of desperation. Frustrated na sila,” Kapunan said during a press briefing.
She said online campaigns can be artificially amplified through technology, allowing a small number of operators to create the appearance of widespread support.
Kapunan also noted that attacks against the prosecution have shifted away from the legal issues surrounding the impeachment proceedings.
“Hindi na ’yung arguments, legal arguments or kung anong nangyari. Tinitira na nila personal na,” she said.
House prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua, meanwhile, urged Filipinos to assess the impeachment case based on what is presented before the Senate impeachment court rather than on narratives circulating on social media.
“Alam mo kami sa prosecution, ’yung katotohanan lang ang gusto namin,” Chua said.
“Kaya nga dito pa lang makikita mo kung anong klase ’yung laban na ’to. Ito ay laban ng katotohanan at laban ng fake news,” he added.
Chua encouraged the public to follow the proceedings firsthand.
“Kaya nga po hinihikayat natin ’yung mga kababayan natin na subaybayan ang impeachment trial nang sa ganun ay hindi sila mapepeke,” he said.
He said the prosecution has made a conscious effort to explain the proceedings in simple terms to help the public distinguish facts from online disinformation.
Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V said troll attacks have become less effective as more Filipinos learn to recognize coordinated disinformation.
“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 ultimately outweigh online narratives.
“Sabi ko nga, wala namang tatalo sa… the truth is true and the truth is real. So doon natin po pagbabasehan ’yan,” Ortega said.