NVDB005_-_CH_3.010._A_Misinformation_and_Disinformation_-_Marie_Antoinette-3

Diplomatic Briefing — KAS Cambodia and CICP

54 — DP Vol. 05

A Misinformation and Disinformation “Success Story”?

may have engaged another firm. The Marcoses have denied this.

Unlike buying votes or changing the number of votes, this strategy is subtle. Yet morally, it is a form of cheating, as they’re cheating others from the truth.

The way that Marcos, Jr. won these elections sets a dangerous precedent for other nations. Can a country claim they have a democracy when one of its most important exercises—elections—was won through lies and manipulation? Will this be a trend? Or has it already been percolating around the world?

We saw it in Russia’s online efforts to influence the U.S. elections; but this is more of a foreign interference. Domestically, we find that the Kremlin’s messaging on the war in Ukraine is different from international reports–while international media showed shocking images of civilian casualties in Ukraine, some Russian media described it as a hoax.

In Venezuela and Turkey, the government has armies of influencers peddling their agenda. Will we see the same in the Philippines and other countries, with troll armies becoming institutionalized?

How about those holding elections after the Philip- pines? Will the Philippines become a template for others wanting to grab power and hijack a democracy in such a deceptive manner?

What is happening in the Philippines isn’t only about hijacking a democracy and a country’s future, but also hijacking a shared, treasured history.

There must be a way forward.

A first in Philippine history—the pink movement— powered by Robredo’s volunteers, was created and molded by regular Filipinos, instead of typical politi- cians with their PR firms. Contrary to the traditional approach of paying voters to attend politicians’ rallies

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