Manila Rep. Joel Chua. Photo courtesy of Joan Bondoc/PNA.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua raised concerns over the spread of disinformation and troll activity ahead of the House vote on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a television interview over the weekend, Chua said misinformation had been influencing public perception of the proceedings despite what he described as mounting evidence in the case.
He claimed that significant amounts of money were being spent to amplify fake content online, saying this had distorted public discourse on the issue.
Chua said this environment had made it harder for the public to distinguish between verified reporting and false information circulating on social media.
The lawmaker is expected to help lead the plenary process that would decide whether the Articles of Impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate.
He rejected claims that the impeachment effort was politically motivated, saying the complaints were filed by non-government groups such as civil society organizations and religious sectors.
Chua said Congress was acting on referrals under its constitutional mandate, stressing that the House only moves forward when formal complaints are submitted and accepted for inquiry.
He also said impeachment should be seen as part of accountability mechanisms for public officials, especially those considering higher elective positions in the future.
Chua added that the process, regardless of outcome, would ultimately be judged by voters in future elections.