Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday said he hopes that debates during the May 2022 national and local elections would be “more enlightened” following the death of former President Benigno Aquino III.

In a virtual press forum, Drilon highlighted the need to address the problem of Internet trolls noting how they had to contend with the public talking more of Aquino’s past mistakes than the basic tenet of his presidency that brought the country to a better standing before the end of his six-year term.

“We have to contend with that especially in the age of trolls and in the age of social media when this incidence is magnificed. That’s a challenge for us,” Drilon said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay online forum.

“The development of trolls, starting in the 2016 elections and continuing today in a very intense level is a challenge,” he said.

“I am cracking my head on a daily basis on how to overcome this, because it is totally unfair,” Drilon lamented.

Drilon noted those behind “troll farms” are so vicious and lacks conscience.

“The viciousness of the trolls is something that is regrettable, to put in the mildest term but condemnable is the most appropriate description. Wala nang konsensya itong mga troll managers na ito (These troll managers have no conscience),” he pointed out.

“This is the kind of environment we are operating in. We do hope that the death of PNoy will change Filipinos to look inward and ask themselves: ano ba ang nangyayari sa atin (What is happening to us)?” he said.

“Why are we satisfied with what the troll farms feed to us? My wish is that this election will be more enlightened and will go beyond the troll farms,” the minority leader reiterated.