Two ranking members of the House of Representatives have called on Filipinos to follow Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate directly, warning that edited clips and online summaries cannot substitute for the actual proceedings.
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, an assistant minority leader, framed the trial as an educational moment for younger citizens. She urged the youth to observe the process as it happens rather than settling for condensed versions circulating online.
“Seeing viral clips or social media summaries will not be enough. Watch the process unfold. Understand how processes work and why accountability matters in a democracy,” Co said.
The lawyer-legislator described the proceedings as a civic lesson with lasting weight. “This is one of those defining moments that future generations will read about in history books. Today, you have the opportunity to witness it as it happens. I hope our youth will see not just the politics, but the principles that underpin our Constitution,” she said.
Co asked young Filipinos to stay engaged in a constructive way—informing themselves, debating issues with civility, and expecting integrity from officials across the political spectrum. “Your voice matters. Ask questions. Engage in respectful conversations. Hold all sides to high standards. Democracy becomes stronger when citizens—especially the youth—are informed and actively engaged,” she added.
Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V, who joined Co in the appeal on Sunday, July 6, 2025, stressed the rarity of the event as reason enough to pay attention.
“Hindi araw-araw nagkakaroon ng impeachment trial laban sa isang nakaupong Vice President. Isa itong pambansang pangyayari na magiging bahagi ng ating kasaysayan. Kaya sana ay maging saksi ang bawat Pilipino,” Ortega said.
He pushed back against relying on the internet’s shortened content, arguing that the format itself distorts what happened. “Social media is a useful platform for discussion, but it should never replace firsthand information. Short clips can remove context. Headlines can oversimplify. Algorithms often reward the most emotional content, not necessarily the most accurate,” he noted.
The Ilocano lawmaker put it more bluntly in Filipino: “Sa panahon ngayon, isang 20-second video puwedeng magmukhang buong katotohanan kahit putol-putol lang ang ipinakita. Mas mabuti pa ring panoorin ang buong proseso.”
Ortega encouraged the public to tune in from the opening day and reach their own verdict. “I encourage everyone to watch the proceedings live from Day One. Listen to the arguments as they are made. Observe how the Senate impeachment court conducts itself. Form your own conclusions based on what you personally see and hear,” he said.
For Ortega, watching the trial directly is itself a defense against falsehood. “Ang pinakamabisang panlaban sa fake news ay hindi argumento. Katotohanan ang panlaban sa fake news. At makikita ang katotohanan kapag pinanood natin mismo ang paglilitis,” he said.
Co, returning to the standards she expects from the Senate itself, said the institutions handling the case must prove worthy of public confidence. “We owe the Filipino people, especially the younger generation, a process that is fair, just, transparent, and faithful to the Constitution. If we expect our youth to inherit these institutions, then the institutions must demonstrate that they deserve that trust,” she said.
