A recent study by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) has debunked viral social media claims about an “imminent uprising” in Mindanao following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte last month.
The PCIJ report, released on March 30, dismantles a wave of disinformation portraying Duterte as a victim of injustice and falsely suggesting that several separatist groups were mobilizing against the government. These claims, widely circulating on social media, are misleading and potentially harmful to ongoing peace efforts in the region.
Duterte, the first Philippine president from Mindanao, is currently facing charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court due to his controversial war on drugs.
PCIJ Uncovers Disinformation Campaign
According to PCIJ, social media pages supporting Duterteโs camp have been spreading misleading narratives, even using unrelated videos of civil unrest in Indonesia to stoke fear and instability. The report warns that such propaganda not only distorts reality but also threatens the fragile peace process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
โIn the days following Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest, numerous social media pages falsely claimed that former separatist groups were mobilizing in his support, using unrelated videos of unrest in Indonesia to stoke fears of a brewing conflict in Mindanao,โ PCIJ stated.
The misinformation falsely linked separatist groups such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to the alleged uprising. However, both groups, which signed peace agreements with the government, have firmly denied any involvement in such activities.
BARMM Leadership Stands for Peace
BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua dismissed the claims, stating that war is “not an option.” He emphasized that the region has its focus on development and is reaping the benefits of peace efforts.
“The Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces are now in the process of decommissioning, and I am also part of that process. We need to be decommissioned. Until now, I am not yet decommissioned, but definitely, I will undertake this decommissioning,” Macacua affirmed.
Decommissioning refers to the surrender of weapons by former combatants and their integration into society, marking a critical step in the peace process.
Former Maguindanao del Sur governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu also refuted the rumors, assuring that the MILF-led BARMM remains committed to working alongside the national government.
Social Mediaโs Role in Spreading Falsehoods
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has acknowledged the dangers of misinformation that could incite violence or interfere with political processes. While the platform removes misleading content that may pose a direct threat, it admits that misinformation remains a challenge due to its evolving nature.
“We remove misinformation where it is likely to directly contribute to the risk of imminent physical harm. However, misinformation is different from other types of speech, making it difficult to create a definitive list of prohibited content,” Meta stated.
Earlier this year, Meta discontinued its third-party fact-checking program. It replaced the program with a “Community Notes” model similar to what X (formerly Twitter) uses, sparking concerns over the effectiveness of misinformation control.
Moving Forward
With social media continuing to be a battleground for disinformation, experts stress the need for critical media literacy and fact-checking mechanisms. As Mindanao progresses towards lasting peace, ensuring accurate information is vital to safeguarding the regionโs stability and the gains made under the BARMM government.
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