HOUSE trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur on Tuesday warned that fake news and disinformation were already creating a “parallel universe” around the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, saying some groups were attempting to distort facts and undermine the constitutional process even before trial proper begins.
Speaking on One News PH program Morning Matters, Adiong said the spread of false narratives could weaken public accountability and damage trust in democratic institutions as the Senate impeachment court prepares for the trial proper against the country’s second-highest official.
“The problem with fake news and disinformation is, as we have seen in days, it’s actually created a parallel universe where we don’t add the discourse now, do not even premise on facts, but it’s entirely based on personal opinions,” Alonto Adiong said.
“So the result of all this fake news actually created a parallel universe where it actually does not only jive with truth and facts, but we see that it purposely created to destroy truth and facts,” he added.
Alonto Adiong said the 11-member House prosecution panel also expects attempts to cast doubt on the impeachment process itself once the trial formally begins.
“We understand that there will be some sections in our society that will be opposed to whatever evidence, not only opposed but even present a parallel reality,” he said.
“That’s just to, you know, not only attack the presentation of the prosecution team but to cast doubt in its entirety on the process itself,” he added.
The lawmaker stressed that impeachment was ultimately about accountability and constitutional standards for public officials.
“We are talking about holding a certain standard for our public officers. That public trust, a public office is a public trust,” Alonto Adiong said.
He appealed to the public to verify information circulating online and directly follow the impeachment proceedings instead of relying on distorted narratives.
“We are also calling them because, you know, appealing to them to fact-check whenever disinformation come out on social media and other platforms, because this is actually the Constitution that we need to protect and the sanctity of the impeachment trial that we also need to protect,” Alonto Adiong said.
Despite the expected political noise surrounding the trial, Alonto Adiong said the House prosecutors would remain focused strictly on facts and evidence.
“We will only be dealing with the actual allegations in relation to how we present them in the form of evidence or ideal testimonies without much theatrics,” he said.
He added that prosecutors wanted ordinary Filipinos to clearly understand the evidence that would be presented during trial.
“We want to present this as factual, as simple as possible so that our kababayan, ordinary average-minded Filipino would be able to understand it effectively,” Alonto Adiong said.
