VETERAN lawyer Lorna Kapunan on Saturday warned the public against what she described as coordinated “troll armies” pushing misleading narratives on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, stressing that the case is anchored on solid documentary evidence, not politics.
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Kapunan said claims that Congress is doing nothing but impeachment are false, noting lawmakers are also addressing fuel price pressures from the Middle East crisis to cushion the impact on Filipinos.
“Mag-ingat tayo sa social media. Ang narrative nila, wala raw ginagawa ang gobyerno kundi impeachment. Hindi totoo iyon,” Kapunan said.
She noted that even as impeachment proceeds, the House of Representatives continues to address urgent economic concerns through the Legislative Energy Action and Development (LEAD) Joint Committee, which during the break held hearings on rising oil prices, supply stability, and immediate relief for affected sectors.
Kapunan said the impeachment proceedings against Duterte are unfolding in a vastly different environment compared to past high-profile cases, including those involving former President Joseph Estrada and the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, when social media had little to no influence on public discourse.
She said today’s landscape is marked by the rapid spread of fake news, misinformation, and coordinated online campaigns that attempt to shape or distort public perception.
“Ngayon, ang kalaban natin ay fake news, distorted news, misinformation, at counter-narrative sa katotohanan,” she said.
Kapunan emphasized that public interest in the ongoing hearings is being driven by transparency, particularly the presentation of financial records and official government data, including findings from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on alleged unexplained wealth.
She cited data presented before the House Committee on Justice showing P6.77 billion in total bank transactions involving Duterte and her spouse, including P4.4 billion in inflows, over P1.5 billion in outflows, and about P2.8 billion in supposed remaining balances that were allegedly not reflected in their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
“Hindi ito opinyon. Government records ito—mga numerong hindi nagsisinungaling,” Kapunan said.
She said the detailed breakdowns presented during the hearings have helped ordinary Filipinos grasp the significance of the figures.
“Ako mahina sa arithmetic, pero marunong ako mag-add at mag-subtract. Nakikita ko kung may natitirang pera. At may remainder na hindi nare-reflect sa bank accounts,” she added.
Kapunan also underscored that the visibility of the hearings, broadcast live and scrutinized in real time, has enabled the public to independently assess the evidence, countering attempts to frame the process as political persecution.
She urged Filipinos to remain vigilant and discerning, focusing on verified records and sworn testimony rather than narratives circulating online, as the impeachment process against Duterte moves forward.
