News Roundup 03 August 2023
Aug 03, 2023 • 4 min Read
Hidden hate and lies: How ‘covert’ political influencers ran the show of 2022 elections | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Content creators engaged in covert political campaigning during the 2022 elections were paid a premium for their unique ability to deploy inflammatory speech to attack candidates, a new study on disinformation has found.
Recently published study “Political Economy of Covert Influence Operations in the 2022 Philippine Elections” estimates that at least P600 million to P1.5 billion were spent on political influencers in the 2022 election for presidential and vice presidential bets.
Researchers’ interviews with political influencers and individuals working with them also show that expenses for influence operations are likely left out of candidates’ official declared campaign expenses, highlighting how new forms of disinformation escape traditional forms of auditing.
The study was written by Filipino scholars Fatima Gaw, Jon Benedik Bunquin, Samuel Cabbuag, Jose Mari Lanuza, Noreen Sapalo, and Al-Habbyel Yusoph. The research was funded by Internews, an international media development organization, which also supported an earlier study that captured the evolving nature of disinformation and influence operations.
The authors wrote that the study is the first to gather data and estimate the extent of convert influence operations in politics. The study also explores how influencers play a significant role in electoral campaigns for financial and political reasons and the hidden transactions that underscore their work.
The study defines influence operations in the context of the Philippine elections as a “kind of strategic communications that aim to hack attention, mobilize audiences, and influence electoral outcomes.”
Full Story at: Hidden hate and lies: How ‘covert’ political influencers ran the show of 2022 elections | Philstar.com
More Filipinos went hungry in 2nd quarter of 2023 — SWS | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — More Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger—or being hungry and not having anything to eat—at least once in the second quarter of 2023, a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations suggested.
Results of the June 28 to July 1 survey found that 10.4% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months. It was up from 9.8% obtained in a survey in March, but down from 11.8% in December 2022.
SWS said the latest hunger rate was the sum of 8.3% of respondents who said they experienced moderate hunger and 2.1% who experienced severe hunger. Moderate hunger refers to those who experienced hunger only once or a few times in the last three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it often or always.
The highest hunger incidence was in Metro Manila at 15.7%, followed by Luzon areas outside the capital region at 11.3%, Visayas at 9.3%, and Mindanao at 6.3%.
Full Story at: More Filipinos went hungry in 2nd quarter of 2023 — SWS | Philstar.com
Escudero warns public about broadening definition of ‘terrorists’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Although not opposing the terror tag against Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves and 12 others, Senator Chiz Escudero on Thursday told the public to be vigilant of the broadening definition of “terrorists.”
According to Escudero, he views the ATC’s resolution, labeling Teves and 12 others (including his brother, former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry Teves) as terrorists, as a significant declaration as it marks the first time the definition of terrorist groups has been expanded.
His warning came after Teves and others on the ATC list were allegedly involved in a “terrorist group” responsible for the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and other political killings.
“Significant itong declaration ng ATC, dahil sa kauna unahang pagkakataon, binuksan nila ‘yung definition, pinalawak nila ‘yung definition ng terroristang grupo, na madalas sa ordinaryong pagiisip, iisipin natin ay, Maute Group, Isis, BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters), etc,” said Escudero during a Kapihan sa Senate conference.
(This declaration by the ATC is significant because, for the first time, they opened the definition, they expanded the definition of a terrorist group, which often, in the ordinary mind, we think of as Maute Group, Isis, BIFF, etc.)
Full Story at: Escudero warns public about broadening definition of ‘terrorists’ | Inquirer News
DBM: Bongbong Marcos’ P1.4 B travel budget proposal ‘justified’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s request for a bigger travel fund next year is justified and necessary to market the Philippines as an investment destination, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said on Thursday.
Marcos had requested Congress to allocate P1.408 billion for local and foreign missions and state visits for 2024.
“Kami po, hindi lang po ang Presidente, even the economic managers, if you notice po, we’ve been going out of the country to present the Philippines as an investment hub po. So I think yung expenses po ng travel, as long as it will be beneficial and mas may advantage po para sa bansa natin, I think okay lang po yun. It’s justified,” said Pangandaman in a Malacañang press briefing.
(The President, even the economic managers, if you will notice, we’ve been going out of the country to present the Philippines as an investment hub. So I think the travel expenses, if it will benefit the country, are okay. It’s justified.)
Pangandaman also pointed out that the economic roadshows and visits bring home investment pledges, which the Department of Trade and Industry previously disclosed.
Full Story at: DBM: Bongbong Marcos’ P1.4 B travel budget proposal ‘justified’ | Inquirer News
