Duterte ally seeks Philippine senate probe on Facebook 'censorship'

There is an urgent need for the senate to investigate the censorship done by Facebook considering that it affects not only peace and order, and security of our country, but likewise greatly affects every Filipinos freedom of expression, Dela Rosa said in a resolution.

Facebook last week dismantled a network of accounts that originated from China and the Philippines for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour, including one that Manila says it supports for its anti-communism stance.

Dela Rosa, a former police chief who was the chief enforcer of Dutertes bloody anti-narcotics crackdown, said Facebook engaged in a censorship campaign against an advocacy group fighting the recruitment of communist rebels, hampering efforts to prevent the spread of violent extremism.A Facebook official said it did not have further comment after last weeks statement on removing accounts.

Filipinos are avid social media users with two-thirds of the countrys 107 million people Facebook users and such platforms now a political battleground.

Critics said the Duterte administration has allowed the abuse and manipulation of social media by its supporters, claims the government denies.