Photo credit: Leila de Lima

House prosecutor and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima is urging the public to be on guard against misinformation as the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte moves closer to trial.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Senate on Monday, De Lima said Filipinos should expect an increase in disinformation campaigns, misleading narratives, and distorted accounts of events as the impeachment proceedings continue.

“As these proceedings progress, we can expect more of that, more of disinformation, more of fake news, more of factual distortions, spins of the real stories, of the things that happen as the proceedings progress, lalo na pagdating natin sa trial proper,” De Lima said.

The former senator joined members of the House prosecution panel, led by Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, in providing updates on the ongoing pre-trial proceedings before the Senate impeachment court.

During the briefing, Luistro also introduced veteran lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr. as the legal spokesperson of the prosecution team and a soon-to-be-appointed private prosecutor in the case.

De Lima emphasized the need for both the public and the media to carefully verify information, especially content being shared on social media platforms.

“So we just have to be very circumspect and careful about receiving things and in our reporting,” she said.

According to De Lima, the impeachment trial is one of the most significant political and constitutional events currently unfolding in the country, making it a prime target for attempts to influence public opinion.

“This is a highly charged event, of course, in the country,” she said.
She also warned that some groups could try to sway public perception by presenting inaccurate or misleading versions of developments surrounding the case.

“Certain players might be doing things that will again try to undermine especially the cause of the prosecution,” De Lima said.

Her remarks came days after House prosecutors pushed back against claims circulating online that the prosecution panel had been outperformed by Vice President Duterte’s defense team during the June 18 pre-trial conference.

The prosecution panel has repeatedly stressed the importance of factual reporting and public access to verified information as preparations continue for the formal impeachment trial, which is scheduled to begin on July 6.

For now, prosecutors remain focused on completing pre-trial requirements while reminding the public to be cautious about information that may not accurately reflect what is taking place inside the impeachment court.