A fact-checking initiative headed by journalism veterans showed on Wednesday, Feb. 2, that presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo is the “biggest victim” of fake news. Another significant finding is that among her rivals, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., appears to be the "leading beneficiary" from disinformation or fake news.
Tsek.ph, an academe-based project launched during the 2019 midterm elections, said that the disinformation and misinformation that prevailed in 2019 are happening again now.
University of the Philippines Diliman Journalism Professor Yvonne Chua said that Robredo is the “favorite” target of fake news and erroneous claim, which also happened to the Otso Diretso slate she endorsed in 2019.
“Unfortunately, the trend persists despite the efforts to curb disinformation. A lot has come out ahead of May elections,” Chua said at the continuing hearing of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes.
“Of the 200 claims that we curated, based on our initial analysis, majority of those are directed against presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo. Marami po talaga (There are a lot), every week, she is the biggest victim of disinformation or negative messaging, whether it’s about the typhoon, COVID-19 response, and all sorts,” she added.
The team revived Tsek.ph in January and have so far reviewed 200 “erroneous claims,” most of which are to the benefit of Marcos.
“There is a preponderance of negative messages against Leni and positive ones for Marcos... We see a substantial and significant volume of false or misleading claims about presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in which case, these are largely positive or in his favor seeking to promote him,” Chua said.
The Vice President cited the fake endorsement of Marcos by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The report also noted the trend to mislead the public by distorting historical facts that involved Marcos’ namesake, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Facebook is the center of messaging for these disinformative posts, Tsek.ph found in 2019.
READ: Robredo bats for social media accountability: ’Laws should change with the times’
The posts come in various forms—infographics, art cards, and quote cards.
Earlier, Robredo said she will push to make social media giants “accountable and responsible” for allowing fake news to spread.
"We have been at the receiving end of so much disinformation pero walang nangyayari sa aming mga reklamo (but nothing is happening with our complaints)," she added.
Since she took office, the Vice President had been at the receiving end of attacks and subjected to ridicule by fake news.
After she filed her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) and supporters held a caravan in support of her, social media posts claimed that her camp bribed the attendees.
Even her daughters—Aika, Tricia, and Jillian—were not spared.
Netizens once spread that Aika was arrested in the United States while studying at the Harvard University there. In December, some posts claimed that the Robredo sisters skipped quarantine protocols upon arriving from the US.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said he will push for a review of the Philippine criminal laws and strengthen the same to curb the widespread efforts of distorting facts through social media.
Senate Resolution 953 aims to address at the soonest possible time issues of online hate and disinformation.
The senator’s family was no stranger to fake news as social media posts alleged that he physically abused his wife, award-winning actress and singer Sharon Cuneta.
“With the findings of our independent fact-checkers, there is really a need to review our criminal laws to address the widespread disinformation and misinformation happening in our digital space,” Pangilinan said.