The study, conducted with support from Internews and which employed Internews’ Information Ecosystem Assessment methodology, sought to explore the dynamics of the Philippine media environment and how information and disinformation flow through it.

In particular, Rappler explored cascades around themes that were dominant during the Duterte administration, namely the war on drugs, attacks against the press, and messaging around Martial Law and authoritarian rule.

The study also finds that government and politicians enjoy blind trust from some Filipino audiences, even as the involvement of Philippine state actors in disinformation campaigns has been exposed. — Rappler.

From the time Rappler started ramping up its fact-checking efforts, it has spotted hundreds of dubious claims related to the Marcoses and Martial Law on social media.

Claims ranged from those that attempted to explain away the Marcos wealth – to those that “exposed” the sins of their nemesis: the family of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr, whose assassination triggered the dictator’s downfall.

Apart from attempting to erase the history of abuse and corruption by the Marcoses during the Martial Law years, the claims have recurring themes. What is often described as “shocking” information is generally portrayed as having been “hidden” from the public by historians and the “biased” press. — Gemma B. Mendoza, Rappler Correspondent.

Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in the 1986 People Power Revolution, he and his family faced multiple charges for anomalies during his 20-year regime.

His wife, then-first lady Imelda Marcos, faced a lot of these cases. What followed were decades-long efforts to hold the Marcoses accountable, especially when it came to their ill-gotten wealth.

It has been a mix of victories and losses for all camps involved, including Marcos cronies. For instance, in some cases, the government has come up short in terms of evidence and evidence-handling against the Marcoses, which led to recent acquittals in 2019.

On the other hand, the government recently won a criminal conviction against Imelda Marcos. However, she has yet to spend time in jail due to a highly unusual legal tactic: employing the remedy of post-conviction bail during the appeal of the judgment. — Rappler.

Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Imelda Marcos’ recent conviction for 7 counts of graft concludes her criminal battle at the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, but there remain 22 civil cases against the Marcoses and cronies with one up for decision.

According to the updated list of the Sandiganbayan’s docket section, Imelda was charged for 28 criminal cases at the anti-graft court. She was convicted for two counts of graft in 1993 over anomalous contracts involving a lease between the Light Rail Transit Authority and the Philippine General Hospital Foundation Inc. But in 1998, the Supreme Court acquitted her.

Her 2nd conviction was the one handed down on Friday, November 9, for 7 counts of graft for illegally creating and maintaining private organizations in Switzerland while she held various government positions during the 20-year rule of her husband, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. (READ: Imee, Bongbong Marcos were beneficiaries of illegal Swiss foundations)

A total of 19 criminal cases against her have been dismissed by the Sandiganbayan throughout the years. — Lian Buan, Rappler Correspondent.

The special anti-graft Sandiganbayan court sentenced Marcos, 89, to serve 6 to 11 years in prison for each of the seven counts of violating an anti-corruption law when she illegally funneled about $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s as Metropolitan Manila governor.

Neither Marcos nor anyone representing her attended Friday’s court hearing.

Marcos said in a statement that the decision was being studied by one of her lawyers who notified the Marcos family that he intends to appeal the decision. Anti-Marcos activists and human rights victims welcomed the conviction as long overdue.

The court disqualified Marcos from holding public office, but she can remain a member of the powerful House of Representatives while appealing the decision. Her congressional term will end next year but she has registered to run to replace her daughter as governor of northern Ilocos Norte province. — NBC News.