A seasoned lawyer has cautioned the public against what she described as coordinated online efforts to distort the narrative surrounding the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, urging Filipinos to rely on verified evidence rather than viral claims.
Speaking at a forum in Quezon City, Atty. Lorna Kapunan warned that “troll armies” are shaping misleading narratives on social media, including claims that lawmakers are focused solely on impeachment.
“Mag-ingat tayo sa social media. Hindi totoo na wala nang ginagawa ang gobyerno kundi impeachment,” Kapunan said, pushing back against what she described as an oversimplified and inaccurate narrative.
She emphasized that while impeachment proceedings are ongoing, Congress continues to address pressing national issues. Kapunan cited the work of the House of Representatives, particularly the Legislative Energy Action and Development (LEAD) Joint Committee, which has been tackling rising fuel costs and supply concerns amid tensions in the Middle East.
Kapunan noted that the current impeachment proceedings differ from past high-profile cases such as those involving former president Joseph Estrada and former Chief Justice Renato Corona, when social media had limited influence on public opinion. Today, she said, the rapid spread of misinformation and coordinated digital campaigns poses a growing challenge to public understanding.
“Ngayon, ang kalaban natin ay fake news, misinformation, at mga counter-narrative na lumalayo sa katotohanan,” she said.
She stressed that the impeachment case is grounded on documentary and testimonial evidence presented before the House Committee on Justice, including financial records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council detailing billions of pesos in transactions linked to Duterte and her spouse.
“Hindi ito opinyon. Government records ito,” Kapunan said, underscoring that the figures are based on official data.
Kapunan added that the public nature of the hearings, many of which are broadcast live, allows Filipinos to independently assess the evidence rather than rely on secondhand interpretations circulating online.
She urged the public to remain vigilant and discerning, particularly in the digital space, and to focus on verified information, sworn testimony, and official documents.