VP endorsement, trolls for Dutertes denounced

VICE-PRESIDENT (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio’s endorsement of a senatorial candidate in the midterm elections signals her bid to shore up support in the Senate, which is set to convene as an impeachment court where she faces ouster, congressmen said on Sunday.

“It is no longer surprising that our Vice-President has changed her stance on endorsing Senate candidates,” House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V said in a statement in Filipino. “We all know that the impeachment trial is approaching, so it’s only natural that she is seeking allies.”

The Office of the Vice-President did not immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

The Vice-President, who had ruled out endorsing Senate candidates for this year’s elections, backtracked by backing Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos weeks after her withdrawal from the administration’s Senate ticket.

Ms. Duterte was also seen alongside Las Piñas Rep. Camille A. Villar, also a member of the administration’s Senate ticket, in a photo circulated on social media last week.

Her father, businessman and former Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr., has said he sees no reason to join the quarrel between President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his predecessor Rodrigo R. Duterte, both of whom are his friends.

The House of Representatives impeached Ms. Duterte in February, alleging secret fund misuse, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his family. The Vice-President has denied any wrongdoing.

More than 200 congressmen signed the impeachment complaint, more than the one-third legal requirement before it could be sent to the Senate.

The Senate will convene as an impeachment court on July 30, once newly elected senators take their oath as impeachment judges, according to the chamber’s impeachment schedule. Senators will approve the trial rules on June 2, when Congress returns from a four-month break.

The Senate should remain impartial and maintain independence in Ms. Duterte’s impeachment trial, House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said.

“We respect her prerogative,” he said in a separate statement, referring to the Vice-President. “But we cannot ignore the timing and the possible implications of these moves, especially when they shift from neutrality to active endorsement.”

“The credibility of our democratic institutions is on the line. The Senate must show that it can rise above political tides and deliver a verdict grounded in truth and constitutional duty,” he added.

Also on Sunday, House of Representatives Deputy Speakers Aurelio D. Gonzales, Jr. and David C. Suarez said online disinformation campaigns and trolls promoting the Dutertes could sway Filipino voters and undermine democratic processes.

“This is digital warfare, plain and simple,” Mr. Suarez said in a statement. “And the battlefield is not just the internet; it’s the hearts and minds of millions of Filipinos. Fake praise, fake news, fake accounts — this is how digital warfare is being waged today.”

“The most dangerous part is, ordinary people might not even know they’re being influenced,” he added.

Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Jr. and Salvador S. Panelo, former spokesman and legal adviser of Mr. Duterte did not immediately reply to separate Viber messages seeking comment.

A Reuters report uncovered an organized network of fake social media accounts that praised Mr. Duterte after his arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court, where he will be tried for crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody drug war.

About 62% of Filipinos get their news from social media, particularly on Facebook, putting them at risk of consuming false information, according to a 2024 survey by political consultancy firm Publicus Asia.

Mr. Gonzales said the Education department, Commission on Higher Education and Department of Information and Communications Technology should launch a nationwide digital literacy program to educate Filipinos about fake news.

“It’s not enough to fact-check after the damage is done,” he said. “We need to inoculate our people against lies and fake news, especially the youth who are most active online and most vulnerable to digital manipulation.”

He also urged candidates to shun online trolls and paid influencers in their campaigns. “Disinformation is not a campaign strategy. It is a threat to free elections and informed choice… If we truly believe in democracy, then we must all play fair.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio