A Nation Grappling with Disinformation: The Philippine Paradox
The Philippines finds itself in the throes of a profound paradox: an administration built on the very foundation of disinformation now struggles to contain its spread. This ironic twist underscores the profound challenges democracies face in the digital age, where the lines between truth and falsehood blur, and manipulation thrives. For over a decade, the Philippines has been a living laboratory for the study of digital labor, disinformation, and their impact on democratic processes. The Duterte administration, infamous for weaponizing false narratives, inadvertently paved the way for the Marcos family’s return to power in 2022 through a strategic alliance with Sara Duterte, Rodrigo’s daughter. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leveraged this digital landscape, rewriting his family’s controversial history on social media and utilizing other forms of digital manipulation to secure victory.
However, the once seemingly impenetrable Marcos-Duterte alliance has fractured, with Rodrigo Duterte facing scrutiny from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, navigating the turbulent waters of potential impeachment. This political chasm divides the nation and plays out dramatically in the digital sphere, with pro-Duterte voices continuing to propagate disinformation. The Marcos administration, armed with state resources and the levers of power, finds itself in a precarious position. While possessing the tools to counter the opposition, some political observers fear they underestimate the enduring power of Duterte’s “air war” of disinformation and the fervent loyalty of his online supporters. Years of efforts by researchers, NGOs, journalists, and fact-checkers to dismantle Duterte’s disinformation network have yielded limited success, leaving the Marcos administration to explore legal avenues to combat the issue.
In early 2025, the government took concrete steps to address the rampant disinformation, summoning pro-Duterte bloggers to a House of Representatives hearing and suspending some of their accounts. Police activity increased amidst growing concerns about the application of the Cyber Libel law, which carries a hefty maximum sentence of 15 years. This crackdown extended to prominent Duterte allies like preacher Apollo Quiboloy, whose media network, SMNI, faced license revocation and removal from Facebook for spreading hateful and contemptuous content. Throughout the political campaigns, the Marcos administration sought to link Chinese disinformation efforts to the Duterte opposition, cautioning voters against being manipulated and spreading false narratives.
The Marcos Jr. administration faces a two-pronged dilemma: the compelling nature of the content being circulated and the inherent challenge to its own legitimacy. Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC arrest provides potent ammunition for his supporters and fuels online engagement, creating a narrative of victimhood and rallying his loyal base. This emotional appeal is evident in the theatrics of Duterte-led rallies, which portray him as a martyr and even draw parallels to religious figures. This narrative resonates deeply with his followers, amplified by influential figures like his daughter Kitty, a prominent social media personality.
In contrast, the Marcos Jr. administration relies on a more conventional approach, highlighting policy initiatives, economic improvements, and presenting factual data to counter the Duterte camp’s disinformation campaign. However, history and experience have shown that this data-driven approach struggles to gain traction in the face of emotionally charged narratives. The Marcos Jr. rallies, focused on policy discussions, lack the emotional resonance and captivating performances of the Duterte rallies. The administration, known for its "good vibes and toxic positivity" campaign in 2022, appears ill-equipped to navigate the current climate of political polarization. The defection of Imee Marcos, President Marcos’s sister, to the Duterte camp further emphasizes the lack of unity even within the ruling family. This internal discord weakens their ability to effectively counter the opposition’s narrative.
The Marcos Jr. administration’s second challenge is one of legitimacy. While many of the Duterte networks undoubtedly deserve increased scrutiny and potential takedowns, the administration’s past reliance on similar tactics undermines their credibility. President Marcos Jr. notoriously avoided public debates and interviews with journalists during the 2022 campaign, favoring engagement with friendly social media vloggers and paid influencers. This reliance on manipulated digital spaces casts a shadow over the administration’s attempts to curb disinformation. Furthermore, allegations of suppressing coverage of the Duterte campaign by state media raise concerns about freedom of the press and the selective application of censorship.
While crackdowns on right-wing critics might seem justified to some, it fuels a narrative of marginalization and sets a dangerous precedent for potential misuse against pro-democracy groups, a pattern seen in other countries like Indonesia. Despite these challenges, hope remains for reform. The strong performance of liberal progressive candidates in the midterm elections hints at a potential shift in the political landscape. Ultimately, the question remains: what kind of leadership emerges from this era of digital manipulation and information warfare? Many Filipinos view the potential return of the Dutertes to power with trepidation, seeing it as a worst-case scenario. The future hinges on the public’s willingness to support an administration built on disinformation as it attempts to use the legal system to prevent the return of its architects. This delicate balancing act will determine the course of Philippine democracy in the digital age.