Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” Suarez strongly condemned the “weaponization” of disinformation allegedly being spread by fake pro-Duterte social media accounts, saying it undermines Philippine democracy ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
Suarez described the situation as a form of digital warfare, where the battlefield is not just the internet—but the hearts and minds of millions of Filipinos.
His remarks come in response to a Reuters report that revealed how fake accounts are being used on social media to praise former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and influence conversations about the upcoming elections.
According to research by Israeli tech firm Cyabra, approximately one in every three accounts posting about the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into Duterte are fake. The report also revealed that nearly 45% of online discourse related to the 2025 elections is being driven by bots, fake profiles, and paid influencers—reaching millions of netizens.
Suarez expressed alarm over the growing strength and sophistication of disinformation networks, warning that they are gradually drowning out the voices of real people online and eroding public trust in institutions meant to serve them.
He called on major social media platforms like Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube to take urgent and serious action against fake accounts that are spreading coordinated disinformation.
At the same time, Suarez urged for a stronger campaign on digital literacy to help Filipinos detect and resist online manipulation.
He also appealed to fellow politicians to promote clean and honest elections.
“Let’s put an end to this toxic culture before it poisons another generation of voters,” Suarez stressed.
