Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Margarita "Atty. Migs" Nograles (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN 


 

What do Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Margarita "Atty. Migs" Nograles. Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo, and Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. have in common? 

They've apparently been targeted by resurgent "troll farms" and fake news-peddling Internet “influencers" in a "coordinated effort" to discredit them. 

As such, Nograles, a House deputy leader, advised Filipinos to be careful when consuming information online, especially on social media. 

She said trolls seem to be targeting the House members who have raised concerns over the alleged mismanagement of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under Vice President Sara Duterte, as well as those who have helped the now-famous quad-committee (quad-comm) in its quest for the truth on Philippine offshore and gaming operators (POGOs), extrajudicial killings (EJKs), and illegal drug syndicates. 

“Matagal na akong biktima ng fake news at patuloy na binibiktima. Nakakalungkot na ang mga opisyal na nagtatanong at tumutulong sa ating bayan ay ginagawan ng kwento at sinisiraan. Lahat ng ito ay pawang fake news," Nograles stated. 

(I've long been a victim of fake news and continue to be a victims. It's saddening that the officials who ask questions and are helping the nation are being made the subject of false stories and attacks. These are all fake news.) 

“Huwag po tayong basta maniniwala sa mga nakikita natin online. Dapat natin alamin ang katotohanan at suriin nang mabuti ang mga impormasyon na ating natatanggap,” she added. 

(Don't easily believe in things we see online. We should seek the truth and carefully study the information that we receive.) 

The strategy against these solons, she said, was to enlist “influencers” to propagate misinformation and disinformation and have trolls comment on these post as if they believe them, and subsequently spread them to gain traction on social media. 

She says this is a coordinated effort to discredit the solons who are trying to hold public officials accountable. Aside from herself, she identified Manuel, Quimbo, and Abante as fellow victims. 

The "Young Guns" bloc member emphasized the importance of distinguishing fact from fiction, and noted that fake news has the potential to mislead the public and damage the credibility of well-meaning officials. 

"If there are questions about irregularities and mismanagement of public funds, they should be answered in the proper forum, not on social media. We should not fall prey to propaganda and false information,” she asserted. 

Nograles reckoned that these attacks are part of a wider effort to shift the conversation away from the critical issues at hand. 

The quad-comm and the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability are currently investigating alleged anomalies involving POGOs, EJKs, illegal drugs, as well as the OVP and DepEd.