MANILA, (PIA) — A sophisticated network of fake social media accounts has been uncovered rallying behind former President Rodrigo Duterte following his arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court, according to research shared exclusively with news agency Reuters.
Israeli tech firm Cyabra found that approximately one-third of accounts on social media platform X that praised Duterte and criticized the ICC were determined to be fake, part of a deliberate and organized digital campaign.
The firm, which uses artificial intelligence to detect fake accounts, analyzed 1,890 X profiles which collectively produced over 5,500 posts relating to Duterte’s ICC arrest. About a third were flagged as fake, responsible for 7,300 posts that generated over 11.8 million views.
“These fake networks didn’t just show up, they shaped the conversation,” said Dan Brahmy, Cyabra’s CEO. “If it’s happening this visibly in the Philippines, it’s naive to think it’s not happening elsewhere too.”
The fake accounts promoted identical messages, hashtags and content, creating the illusion of overwhelming public support for Duterte and harsh condemnation of the ICC. The coordinated timing, posting patterns and shared narratives suggest a well-orchestrated influence campaign, though Cyabra did not pinpoint the exact source.
This disinformation extends beyond Duterte’s legal troubles. A parallel Cyabra study also reviewed by Reuters found that up to 45% of conversations about the upcoming Philippine midterms were being driven by fake profiles such as sock puppets, bots and avatars.
The 2025 midterms are shaping up to be high-stakes, with more than 18,200 seats up for grabs.
“No society is ready to see through the disinformation, but we need as a nation to fight it,” said Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, a prominent Manila-based political analyst.
The Philippines has long been known as “patient zero” for global disinformation, a testing ground where strategies such as troll armies and click farms have been deployed and refined.
It can be recalled that Duterte was arrested in Manila after being charged by the ICC with crimes against humanity over the 6,200 drug-related deaths reported during his presidency.
After his arrest, Duterte posted on Facebook: “I will be responsible for everything.” He has yet to enter a plea, with a confirmation of charges hearing scheduled for Sept. 23. (PIA-NCR)
