Marcos releases video warning against trolls
President Marcos cautioned Filipinos on Sunday against the spread of “fake news” by “trolls” during this election season, echoing earlier similar pronouncements by other officials.
“As we always say, the new Filipino is smart enough to distinguish right from wrong information. So now that fake news and disinformation are widespread, we have to be extra careful,” he said in Filipino in a vlog, or video uploaded on his YouTube channel on Sunday.
Nevertheless, Mr. Marcos said he was confident that the truth would still overshadow the mudslinging, intrigue and disinformation that are widespread during campaigns.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) released the video amid online criticism which attributed Thursday’s collapse of the P1.2-billion Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela to corruption under Mr. Marcos’ administration.
But on Saturday, Communications Undersecretary and Malacañang press officer Claire Castro quoted the President as saying that “heads will roll” following an investigation of that incident.
Before the release of Mr. Marcos’ video, Castro called for legislation that would penalize troll armies.
Also during the weekend, an official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology warned against cyberattacks designed for “political machinations” and aimed at “influencing” the outcome of the midterm polls.
Word war
Supporters of Mr. Marcos and former President Rodrigo Duterte have been trading barbs online on which administration should take the blame for the collapsed bridge.
Mr. Marcos and Duterte, as well as their allies, have also traded barbs at campaign rallies.
In the video, Mr. Marcos appeared to downplay the criticisms, saying it delighted him to see their supporters at the campaign rallies he had attended because “[t]hese are real Filipinos and not just keyboard warriors or trolls; they are real people.”
“Perhaps the best thing about being on the campaign trail is getting to talk to a lot of people, for me to know if they are in a good state and what their needs are,” he said.
The President also lamented that coupled with the hype of the election campaign is the mudslinging and disinformation or “fake news.”
He, however, said in the video that people’s sentiments about the government cannot be faked.
“It is heartening to hear the people say that they put their trust in their government, give thanks for the services we give to them and attest to the relief that they enjoy,” he added.
Critics had earlier accused Mr. Marcos and his then running mate Sara Duterte of benefiting from propaganda and disinformation during the 2022 election campaign.
