Malacañang on Monday advised Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco to refrain from spreading alleged baseless statements related to the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The Palace issued the statement after Tiangco claimed there was supposed impeachment vote buying and suggested that the impeachment issue could be used to divert attention from controversies surrounding flood control projects.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the congressman had made several claims but failed to present evidence to support his allegations.
Castro warned that Filipinos could suffer if misinformation or fake news continued to circulate, emphasizing the need for responsible statements from public officials.
Malacañang also stressed that government institutions should not be undermined by allegations that lack sufficient basis.
The Palace response came after Tiangco earlier remarked that Castro appeared to be “fixated” on issues involving the Vice President.
In response, Castro returned the question to Tiangco, asking whom he was truly focusing on, noting that many individuals were allegedly involved in anomalies and corruption.
She added that attention should not be diverted or certain individuals placed on a pedestal instead of being held accountable.
The Palace reiterated the importance of relying on verified information, especially when addressing sensitive issues such as impeachment proceedings.
Officials maintained that unverified claims could damage public trust and disrupt the integrity of government institutions if allowed to spread without proper evidence.
