A cyborg operation—part-human, part-machine—comprising hyper-partisan influencers, trolls, and true believers is conducting a long-running political influence campaign to defend Sara Duterte and her father, Rodrigo Duterte, and consolidate support ahead of the 2028 elections. Powered by generative AI, this machinery produces deepfakes, fictional supporters, and mass pro-Duterte comments to shape public perception amidst numerous charges against the Dutertes, ranging from murder to grand corruption. Since last year, allied influencers have seeded narratives on social media to cast doubt on Sara Duterte’s impeachment and quell outrage over her alleged misuse of education and confidential funds, including payments to fictitious individuals like “Mary Grace Piattos” and “Chippy McDonald.” The campaign employs five tactics: dismissal of facts, distortion of financial and legal issues, distraction or deflection, emotional manipulation portraying the Dutertes as victims, and spreading conspiracy theories. These strategies aim to delegitimize oversight, influence public opinion, and build political capital for 2028.
The Supreme Court’s July 25 decision declaring Sara Duterte’s impeachment unconstitutional was framed as a vindication, with pro-Duterte accounts flooding social media with praise. However, the ruling addressed procedural issues, not Duterte’s innocence, and has been criticized for potentially undermining future impeachment trials. Disinformation campaigns dismissed the charges, distorted COA findings, and deflected attention to Marcos Jr.’s spending, while emotional manipulation portrayed Sara Duterte as a victim of political persecution. Conspiracy theories blamed the U.S. “deep state,” communists, and opposition figures, framing the impeachment as a grand plot. These tactics, executed through coordinated inauthentic behavior, erode trust in democratic institutions and create a siege mentality among supporters. The Duterte camp’s influence machine continues to shape narratives, delegitimize criticism, and consolidate power ahead of the 2028 elections. —PCIJ.org
