Palace on MSNBC special report on fake news: Duterte used Facebook to his advantage during the campaign

President Rodrigo Duterte made good use of Facebook during the 2016 campaign, Malacañang said on Friday after American news cable and satellite television network MSNBC anchor Ari Melber indicated the Chief Executive benefited from fake news on social media to win the elections.

“On the other issue of Facebook being utilized by President Duterte, well, the technology exists and would have been foolhardy for any political candidate not to tap Facebook as a campaign tool,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an audio statement to reporters.

“All candidates did so, unfortunately for his detractors, President Duterte appeared to have been the best candidate who utilized Facebook the most,” he added.

Roque also said that the internet should be allowed to flourish.

"Again, the internet is the manifestation of the free marketplace of ideas and it should be made to flourish, as freedom of expression is responsible for freedom of thought and public opinion, which we know will fiscalize governments," he said.

Melber mentioned that the fake news saying Pope Francis had endorsed Duterte spread during the campaign period in the Philippines. He added that there was also fake news that said Pope Francis also endorsed United States President Donald Trump.

“Duterte has actually been busted for pushing his own fake news and all kinds of fake accounts during their election,” Melber said. —KG, GMA News