Covid-19 information to the public has been hampered by the government’s lack of information strategy in the Philippines resulting in confusing, uncoordinated messages from various government officials. The main issue has therefore not been suppression or deceit, but rather a more defensive stance from the part of the government in its communication.
Instead, a palpable mobilization of troll armies has been visible in the online information sphere – perceived by the public as government-sponsored, -sanctioned, or at the very least – enabled with the primary objective of defending and rationalising potential failings of government action related to the virus and less so, instigating attacks on legitimate media.