It is now clear that some “vested interests” are “hijacking” these online surveys through the auto-generation of reactions in favor of certain personalities and politicians, intended to give an image of widespread popular support for that personality, as OpinYon Laguna found out recently.
Surveys, in theory, should be an accurate gauge of the public’s pulse and perception.
However, it’s no secret here in the Philippines that surveys have been used (and abused) by traditional politicians to “condition” the minds of the public in their favor.
Online surveys –particularly surveys conducted on social media sites like Facebook – are no exception, as OpinYon Laguna found out recently.
It is now clear that some “vested interests” are “hijacking” these online surveys through the auto-generation of reactions in favor of certain personalities and politicians, intended to give an image of widespread popular support for that personality.
Gubernatorial survey
Last May 24, OpinYon Laguna “kicked off” its series of online surveys as part of preparations for the 2025 midterm elections.
The surveys, conducted on social media, aim to gauge Lagunenses’ perceptions as to who, in their opinion, should lead the province for the next three years.
And since incumbent Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez is expected to step down after serving the province since 2013 (when he was appointed governor following the disqualification of former Governor E.R. Ejercito), local political analysts are expecting next year’s elections to be much more intensely contested than before.
As of press time, at least four names have popped up in the list of possible candidates for governor: Laguna 2nd District Representative Ruth Mariano Hernandez, wife of the incumbent governor; Vice Governor Atty. Karen Agapay; former broadcaster and 3rd District Representative Sol Aragones; and Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez.
To date, only Aragones so far has committed herself to running for governor, while the three others, while not officially declaring their commitment, are already making their presence felt throughout the province.
These are the names OpinYon Laguna included in its Facebook survey which commenced on May 24 and is still running.
This online survey, we must add, will remain open until the official filing of certificates of candidacy later this year.
Manufactured results?
As of May 30, the online survey has generated 50,693 post impressions, reached 50,445 Facebook users and garnered over 4,964 reactions.
On OpinYon Laguna's post alone, over 2,700 reactions were in favor of Sol Aragones, while 558 reactions are in favor of Vice Governor Karen Agapay, 229 for Representative Ruth Mariano Hernandez and just over 30 for Representative Dan Fernandez. (Which is a surprise, given that as reported earlier this year by OpinYon Laguna, Fernandez’s tarpaulins have been seen all over Laguna’s 3rd and 4th districts.)
However, a close check by OpinYon Laguna’s editorial team has cast doubts on the veracity of the reactions earned by the survey.
Looking into the profile pages of some of those who reacted in favor of a certain candidate, OpinYon Laguna discovered that they aren’t even residents of Laguna province at all.
“May mga nadiskubre kami na nag-react na ang nakalagay sa profile page nila ay taga-ibang lugar: may mga taga-Pasig City, may mga taga-Cebu City, tapos mayroon pang sa Mindanao nakatira. Yung iba, mukhang galing pa sa abroad,” one reporter explained.
Not only that, as another reporter explained, there were tell-tale signs that some of those who reacted were clearly “troll accounts.”
These are accounts created simply to boost the online presence of certain personalities through mass reactions or sharing of posts in favor of them.
“May tatlong characteristics na dapat tingnan yung mga legitimate na netizen para malaman nila kung troll account ba yung nakikita nila,” that reporter noted.
“Una, halatang hindi sila yung nasa profile picture – usually, caricature, o di kaya ibang tao, o di kaya wala talaga silang profile pic. Ikalawa, less than a hundred yung friends nila sa Facebook, which is a major red flag lalo na kung matagal na kayong gumagamit nito. And usually, may nakalagay agad na ‘New Facebook Account’ sa kanilang mga profile. Which is suspicious kapag nakikita mong ang dami na nilang sine-share, tapos halatang biased pa sa isang personalidad o di kaya e black propaganda yung mga sine-share nila.”
Based on their sampled analysis, OpinYon Laguna’s editorial staff are inclined to believe that only around 25 percent of the garnered reactions on its current online survey can be considered as coming from legitimate users.
Aragones in the lead
Notwithstanding the presence of such troll accounts “auto-generating” reactions, however, OpinYon Laguna’s staffers believe that Sol Aragones already has an early (although close) lead over the other candidates.
To recall, Aragones, after losing to incumbent Governor Ramil Hernandez in the 2022 elections, had concentrated on her “Akay ni SOL Partylist,” which had carried out programs for persons with disability (PWDs) in the province.
“Medyo late ang naging pagpaparamdam ng ibang mga kandidato sa Laguna province, di gaya ni Aragones na immediately after the 2022 elections ay nagsimula na agad under her partylist,” a political analyst who requested anonymity told OpinYon Laguna.
Taking a stand
Nevertheless, OpinYon Laguna – and the other community newsmagazines under OpinYon Media Advocacies – will continue to encourage its readers and social media followers to speak up on who, they believe, is the most qualified to lead their constituencies in 2025.
Last month’s gubernatorial survey is just the start of a series of surveys OpinYon Laguna will conduct for other local positions as we draw closer to the filing of COCs, now slated for October 1 to 8.
OpinYon will not let “manufactured” reactions stand in the way of fulfilling its mandate of taking a stand – and giving Lagunenses the platform to take their own stand in choosing our next leaders.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonCoverStory #OnlineTrolls #OnlineSurveyResults #Election2025