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Senator Panfilo Lacson recently claimed that an unnamed Undersecretary has been building at least two troll farms per province in the country using government funds.
“Mayroon akong alam na Usec na nag-oorganize na sa buong bansa ng at least 2 troll farms sa [bawat] isang probinsya,” Lacson stated during an online press conference.
The identity of the Undersecretary remained anonymous.
He said that the scheme was reported to him by a former employee who was approached and was offered a position by the said official.
Lacson’s ex-officer declined the offer.
“Ang nakausap niya isang dati kong tauhan. Ni-report sa amin. Sabi niya, ‘Nag-decline ako… Nag-oorganize sila sa bawat probinsya ng troll farm.'”
While the Senator didn’t disclose or give any hint regarding the Undersecretary’s identity, he added that he is certain that the public servant is using the funds of the government. He is, however, unsure if the illegal project was permitted by the Malacañang.
“I hope not. Maybe overeager lang ‘yung opisyal na ‘yun na magpakitang gilas sa kaniyang ginagawa.”
In December 2020, reporters Raffy Tima and Jeff Canoy pointed out how they noticed their Twitter followings have rapidly increased. After checking their new followers, they noticed that most of the accounts have zero followers.
Good morning to the surge of new followers with zero Twitter history today. pic.twitter.com/5q627NozIb
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) December 2, 2020
Tima even counted the individuals with zero followers, saying that there have been 85 new accounts just that morning.
Hmmm… anyone here experienced a big surge of new followers with new accounts and with 0 followers lately? I counted 85 just this morning. Something coming up?
— Raffy Tima (@raffytima) December 11, 2020
Reporter Gretchen Ho also shared an unusual surge of her social media followers.
There has been a strange rapid increase in my following over the past days, accounts made either 2020 or 2021. Who's experiencing the same?
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) May 17, 2021
She accused the “keyboard soldiers” of preparing a social media-centric campaign for the 2022 elections.
The Malacañang denied that President Rodrigo Duterte has anything to do with the said troll farms.
“Wala po kaming alam d’yan. Hindi po iyan polisiya ng gobyerno,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
“Kung ginagawa po iyan ng taong gobyerno, siguro ginagawa nila iyan in their personal capacities.”
Lacson didn’t mention anything about the troll farms’ purpose or connection to the 2022 Presidential elections.
