“Go to hell.”
This was the angry retort of Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to social media trolls and other detractors spreading black propaganda to undermine the Duterte government.
Andanar said attacks from anonymous trolls have become relentless and “very vicious” since the President assumed office last year, never even giving the new government a honeymoon period.
“For those trolls who are out to destroy our government, you all go to hell,” the former TV5 broadcast journalist said in a Facebook video while visiting New York City.
Andanar, however, quickly added that he has nothing against online trolls “as long you pay your taxes.”
“They can do that for all they want,” he said about the attacks of Internet trolls.
Despite the negative online campaign, Andanar said the President enjoys the trust and support of the majority of Filipino people based on recent surveys. “Even though we are battered in the mainstream media, bashed by trolls, nobody believes them. 80 percent of our population supports the President,” he said.
Andanar has also learned to ignore the troll attacks that harass and peddle lies against the government and just focus on his work. “I’d like to focus on the job. We, in the Cabinet, are working to implement the reforms the President wants and the people want,” he said.
“Personally, I don’t read them anymore because it distracts you, it stops from you from whatever policies and programs you’re doing for government,” Andanar said about the troll attacks on social media. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
