VERA Files found signs of deliberately staged posts that spread disinformation from 13 Facebook (FB) accounts of former policemen. The users resigned from the Philippine National Police (PNP) supposedly in protest of the alleged involvement of their officials in the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Technically called coordinated inauthentic behavior, this practice refers to indicators that certain posts on social media come from an orchestrated effort of malign actors to promote a specific narrative. They make this narrative seem genuine and reflective of the sentiments of the public at the grassroots level on certain issues.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 upon his arrival from a trip to Hong Kong with some members of his family and political allies. Eleven of the posts circulated from the afternoon of March 12 until the evening of March 13, while two were posted in the succeeding days.
The suspicious accounts shared the same sentiments outlined in the same narrative order. They first lamented that the PNP was being used for “political interests,” then they professed their loyalty to Duterte, and “signed off” from their supposed posts in solidarity with the former president.
The 13 posts garnered over 257,000 reactions, more than 158,000 shares and upwards of 20,000 comments combined as of March 31.
A series of retellings amplified these narratives with an additional 173,000 reactions and 136,000 shares.
Read the full story on VERA Files.