A political analyst has raised concern over the growing threat of misinformation in the Philippines, warning that it could worsen as the country approaches the 2025 midterm elections.
In an ABS-CBN News report, Prof. Renato de Castro of De La Salle University said the deepening political divide, especially driven by social media influencers, may be part of a broader “cognitive warfare” strategy aimed at causing confusion and division among Filipinos.
“Expect it to get worse,” De Castro said in an interview on Saturday. “We often see these vloggers as individuals, but we have to ask—who is behind them? There may be a state actor with resources and strategy backing them.”
He emphasized that with ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, such disinformation campaigns cannot be taken lightly. The ultimate goal, he said, is to demoralize and divide the public.
De Castro also highlighted the strategic importance of the Philippines in global geopolitics, which makes the integrity of its elections even more critical. He called on the public to be vigilant, practice critical thinking, and question the source and intent behind social media posts.
“You need to ask where the information is coming from. Our education system should also teach how to identify what’s true—by analyzing motives and applying internal or external criticism,” he added.
The warning came a day after several social media influencers attended a congressional hearing on fake news and trolling. Some admitted fault and apologized for spreading politically-charged content that lawmakers said often lacked verification.
At the same hearing, former PCO Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles revealed that some Filipino influencers had attended a state-sponsored seminar in China, with expenses reportedly covered by the Chinese government. Many of the vloggers involved were known to support former President Rodrigo Duterte.
A recent SWS survey commissioned by Stratbase Group found that 59 percent of Filipinos view fake news on social media as a serious problem, while only 20 percent think otherwise.
