Several Facebook posts claim the prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial has already declared victory. This is misleading.
Between Oct. 13 and 14, at least one Facebook page and a user reposted a graphic featuring a photo of the prosecution team with the text:
“CONGRATULATIONS!
PROSECUTION, NAGDEKLARA NG “PAGKAPANALO” SA IMPEACHMENT TRIAL NI SARA DUTERTE (Prosecution, declared a “victory” in the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte).”
The prosecution team did not issue a recent statement declaring victory in Duterte’s impeachment trial.
The graphic itself is dated July 7. A news report on that date quoted Rep Zia Alonto Adiong, House prosecution panel spokesperson, saying they were claiming “victory” on the second day of the impeachment trial over the continued presentation of evidence after the Senate impeachment court overruled several objections from the defense team.
But prosecutor Lorenz Defensor clarified at the time that “no victory can be claimed” until a verdict was reached.
The disinformation surfaced after the prosecution team dropped on Oct. 13 three impeachment articles and proceeded only with Article 2, which concerns Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth. The prosecution has rested its case. The defense is scheduled to begin its turn on Nov. 9.
The posts, published by Bagong Pilipinas Chronicle (created Aug. 9, 2021) and two Facebook users, collectively garnered 6,161 reactions; 1,362 comments; and 290 shares, as of writing.
