MANILA – The House prosecution panel will seek the assistance of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to identify those behind fabricated quotes and other allegedly false content circulating online about Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial.

House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Friday that the move follows the circulation of a fake statement attributed to Duterte’s defense counsel and spokesperson Michael Poa.

“We will coordinate with the CICC on the matter to look further into the personalities behind itong mga ganitong fake news,” Ridon said during an online press briefing.

The CICC is an inter-agency body under the Department of Information and Communications Technology that coordinates government efforts against cybercrime and facilitates cooperation among law enforcement and other government agencies.

The fabricated statement circulated on social media earlier this week and was presented as Poa’s response to Ridon’s remarks about the conduct of Duterte’s defense team during the impeachment proceedings.

Poa later disowned the statement, saying he had neither made nor issued the remarks. He also called on social media pages that published the supposed quote to correct or remove the posts.

Ridon thanked Poa for clarifying the matter, saying his criticism was directed at those who fabricated the statement rather than at the defense spokesperson.

“He has my friendship and he has my respect on the matter,” Ridon said.

“But ‘yung wala akong respeto, ‘yung pong mga actually nag-unleash ng fake quote po ni Atty. Poa, and I think it is something that we will look further into on who these personalities are,” he added.

Ridon identified “Central Luzon Media” as the alleged source of the fabricated quote, which he said was subsequently amplified by supporters of Duterte.

He also accused the social media page of previously circulating fabricated quote cards involving members of the House prosecution panel.

The lawmaker said the latest incident highlights the need to ensure that the public continues to have access to legitimate information about the impeachment proceedings.

Ridon said the prosecution, defense and Senate impeachment court have been providing information that allows the public to monitor the trial and hear the positions of both sides.

He warned that restricting legitimate information channels could create an information gap that purveyors of false content could exploit.

“There will be a vacuum in information, at itong mga fake news peddlers, like Central Luzon Media, will be the ones to fill in the gaps,” Ridon said.

“Hindi po talaga natin ‘yan dapat payagan at kailangan po natin talaga ‘yang habulin,” he added.