“Sara is unleashing one of the tactics straight out of a dictator’s playbook: controlling information by demonizing the independent press and weaponizing social media for her propaganda,” the union said in a statement. Duterte told supporters in The Hague on July 30 that Philippine journalism lags far behind international standards. She praised social media as a platform where people could directly see the truth. The organization also challenged Duterte’s portrayal of social media as a source of truth, noting online platforms have long been used to spread misinformation. Former President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly attacked news organizations during his term, most notably ABS-CBN, whose franchise renewal Congress rejected in 2020.