Private prosecutor and seasoned legal expert Atty. Lorna Kapunan dismissed the recent escalation of online trolling and personal smears directed at the House prosecution team as an indication of helplessness from the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, July 16, Kapunan suggested that the coordinated digital onslaught indicates that the Vice President’s loyalists are running out of viable defenses as the Senate impeachment trial continues.
“Kung dumadami ’yung mga trolls, I think that is a sign of desperation. Frustrated na sila,” Kapunan remarked.
The high-profile trial marks the first time Duterte is facing a full Senate tribunal, following two consecutive years of impeachment complaints initiated against her by the House of Representatives.
Kapunan cautioned the public against misinterpreting the influx of hostile social media activity as genuine public opinion.
She pointed out that digital operations are frequently manipulated through artificial means, enabling political strategists to fabricate a false sense of massive public backing for a specific official.
Furthermore, the veteran lawyer lamented how the discourse surrounding the historic proceedings has degraded, noting that detractors have abandoned substantive debates on the actual merits of the case in favor of targeted character assassination.
“Hindi na ’yung arguments, legal arguments or kung anong nangyari. Tinitira na nila personal na,” Kapunan stated.