Lawmakers in the House of Representatives proposed a new policy aimed at criminalizing troll farms and disinformation campaigns to prevent instances of voter manipulation, which erodes the integrity of elections.
Newly married representatives Cheeno Miguel Almario (2nd District, Davao Oriental) and Margarita Nograles-Almario (PBA party-list) jointly filed House Bill 11178 or the “Anti-Troll Farm and Election Disinformation Act” to stem the growing influence of such forms of public deception.
The proposed law aims to protect the sanctity of Philippine elections by holding perpetrators accountable and promoting truth and transparency in the democratic process.
“Troll farms are not just digital pranks—they are systematic tools designed to deceive voters and distort democracy,” said Nograles-Almario. “This bill is our commitment to ensuring that the voice of the Filipino people remains genuine and untainted by lies.”
The proposed measure seeks to criminalize troll farms and disinformation campaigns targeting political candidates during elections. It carries a penalty for violators with imprisonment of six to twelve years and fines ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.
The bill also disqualifies political candidates who knowingly benefit from disinformation activities. It likewise holds online platforms accountable for failure to remove disinformation materials, subjecting them to significant fines.
“This is about restoring trust in our democratic institutions,” said Almario. “Technology should be a force for empowerment, not manipulation. House Bill 11178 is a proactive step to ensure that innovation strengthens, rather than weakens, our democracy.”
The bill empowers the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to work with agencies like the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) to monitor and investigate troll farms.
It also mandates educational campaigns led by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to promote voter awareness and critical thinking online.
“Education is a long-term solution. By equipping the public with the tools to recognize and combat disinformation, we can nurture a more informed and responsible electorate,” Nograles-Almario emphasized.
She said the unchecked rise of disinformation networks not only harms the domestic democratic process, but also paints a picture of a society vulnerable to manipulation. By addressing these issues through legislation, the Philippines can reaffirm its commitment to democratic values.
The Almario couple also pointed out that the spread of disinformation has a polarizing effect on society, fostering division and eroding public trust in institutions. “Without trust, democracy cannot function effectively, and this bill is a step toward healing the damage caused by disinformation,” they said.
