House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has slammed Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for spreading "lies and fake news" that ultimately "serve the interest" of impeachment trial respondent Vice President Sara Duterte.

Ridon, in a statement Monday, Aug. 10, said these lies were designed to destroy the reputation of the prosecution team in the ongoing Senate impeachment trial.

"Katulad ng dati, nag-iimbento ng kuwento si Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong tungkol sa mga House impeachment prosecutors na mayroon umanong budget insertions ang ilan sa mga umuusig kay Vice President Sara Duterte," he said.

(As before, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong invents stories about House impeachment prosecutors, claiming that some of them have budget insertions in the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.)

"Hindi ito totoo, at katulad ng dati, kasinungalingang muli mula kay Mayor Magalong," added the outspoken Ridon.

(This is not true, and as before, it is another falsehood from Mayor Magalong.)

"Hindi kami malilihis sa mga paratang na katulad na nito, na malinaw na nagsisilbi sa interes ng akusadong Pangalawang Pangulo, para durugin ang kredibiladad ng prosekusyon, sa panahong papalapit na ang paglilitis sa paglalantad ng katotohanan sa maling paggamit ng pondo ng bayan, at sa mga hindi maipaliwanag na yaman ng Pangalawang Pangulo," he underscored.

(We will not be diverted by accusations like this, which clearly serve the interests of the accused Vice President, aiming to destroy the credibility of the prosecution as the trial approaches to expose the misuse of public funds and the unexplained wealth of the Vice President.)

Ridon said that contrary to Magalong's remarks, the House prosecutors simply can't have insertions in the budget or "pork barrel".

He said the current 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget was patently prohibited from having such insertions by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President.

Ridon said that as of Monday, Malacañang had yet to turn over the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget to the House.

"Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring deliberasyon ang Kongreso para sa 2027 national budget, wala pa ring mga pagdinig na ipinapatawag ang House Committee on Appropriations para sa budget ng kahit alinmang opisina ng pamahalaan," he noted.

(Up to now, Congress has not yet begun deliberations for the 2027 national budget, and the House Committee on Appropriations has not yet called hearings for the budget of any government office.)

Ridon also took a swipe at the police general-turned-mayor as he recalled the latter's history of supposedly unsubstantiated allegations.

"Ang hamon namin kay Mayor Magalong: Pangalanan po ninyo kung sino ang tinutukoy ninyong House prosecutors na mayroong budget insertions. Baka katulad na naman po ito noong kasagsagan ng flood control investigations, kung saan nagparatang kayo ng 67 kongresistang kasabwat sa korapsyon na kahit minsan hindi ninyo pinangalanan."

(Our challenge to Mayor Magalong: Name the House prosecutors you claim have budget insertions.This might be like during the height of the flood control investigations, when you accused 67 congressmen of corruption but never named a single one.)

This notwithstanding, Ridon said the prosecution team was focused on gaining a conviction on Vice President Duterte.

"Panghuli at pinakamahalaga, nakatutok ang House prosecution panel sa aming papel sa pagtitiyak ng katotohanan at pananagutan sa mga impeachable offenses ng ating Panglawang Pangulo," he said.

(Finally and most importantly, the House prosecution panel is focused on its role of ensuring truth and accountability in the impeachable offenses of our Vice President.)

Meanwhile, House Deputy Speaker Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin warned the public of what she described as a “coordinated, systematic, well-funded” online campaign targeting prosecutors, spokespersons and other figures involved in the impeachment trial.

“There’s really a coordinated, systematic, well-funded targeting, not only the prosecutors, including the spokesperson, and other figures who are behind the campaign for accountability and a clean governance under the current administration,” Garin said in a press briefing, also on Monday.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V claimed that an estimated P5 million was spent on an online campaign using misleading photos and videos to exaggerate the extent of flooding in his home province.

Ortega had endorsed one of the four impeachment complaints filed against Duterte in the House this year.

Garin said she had observed a similar pattern, particularly against those actively involved in the impeachment trial and programs of the Marcos administration.

“Nakikita naman natin na kung sino ‘yung active, hindi lamang doon sa impeachment, kundi doon sa mga programa ng administrasyon, ay nagkakaroon ng bashing. At hindi lang ‘yung bashing, ang mas nakakatakot ay ‘yung fake news,” she said.

(Those who are active not only in the impeachment but also in administration programs experience bashing, and what is more frightening is the spread of fake news.)

Garin cited social media posts purportedly showing current flooding in the Philippines but which used old photographs or images taken in other countries.

“‘Yung mga ina-attach na kunwari bumaha o ganito na parang hirap na hirap ‘yung mga tao at lumalangoy, ‘yung iba are pictures from years, years ago. Ang iba naman ay hindi naman sa Pilipinas,” she said.

(The images being attached—such as supposed flooding where people appear to struggle or swim—are actually photos from years ago, while others are not even from the Philippines.)

Garin warned that misleading images could distort the situation on the ground and confuse the public. As such, she urged Filipinos to be vigilant against disinformation, including false medical information circulating during disasters.