MISLEADING: Rep. Luistro pushes for Filipino in VPSD trial due to ‘nosebleed’ experience in English language

Sebastian Janapin

Several users from ‘TEAM SARA DUTERTE’ Facebook group quoted House impeachment prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro’s statement regarding her wish to use the Filipino language in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial instead of English. 

CLAIM

The users have claimed that House impeachment prosecutor Rep. Luistro is having ‘nosebleeds’ and difficulties in using the English language, which is why she wishes to use the Filipino language in the upcoming impeachment trials of VP Duterte in July.

RATING: MISLEADING

CONCLUSION

It is correct that Rep. Luistro wishes to use the Filipino language in VP Duterte’s trial, but mainly because she wants the Filipino people to understand the process of the trial by having both Filipino and English languages used in the impeachment proceedings, not due to having difficulties in speaking English.

THE FACTS

• Last June 15, Rep. Luistro formally submitted a possibility of using the Filipino language during VP Duterte’s impeachment trial.
• Rep. Luistro also eyes the possibility of using simultaneous translations during the trial.
• “Sana habang nag ta-trial, mayroon tayong translation to as many dialects as possible in order to make sure that the entire Philippine nation is on the same page […] We want the entire nation to walk with us as we start, continue, and conclude the impeachment trial,” she said.
• There are no provisions in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, laws enacted, or resolutions released that prohibit the use of the Filipino language, nor strictly enforce the usage of the English language in impeachment trials or proceedings.
• The posts are likely satirical and intended to mislead the audience regarding Rep. Luistro’s statements and the fate of VP Duterte’s trial regarding technicalities.

THE BOTTOMLINE

The usage of the Filipino language, as well as other Philippine dialects, helps the Filipino people to make sure they are on the ‘same page’ in understanding VP Duterte’s impeachment trial. Using the Filipino language can make the trial more inclusive to Filipinos who want to understand Duterte’s grounds for impeachment, such as her strongly worded remarks against the Marcos clan: President Bongbong, First Lady Liza, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and her involvement in several corruption scandals as former secretary of education.