PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday said his camp hired Internet trolls during the campaign period to help him win the race to Malacañang last year and to defend him from critics on social media.

A University of Oxford study showed that Mr. Duterte spent $200,000, or approximately P10 million, to employ the so-called keyboard warriors tasked to spread propaganda for him and target his opposition.

“Sa election siguro (Maybe during the election). Sa (During the) elections ma’am more than [amount],” Mr. Duterte told reporters after his second State of the Nation Address, adding that he no longer needs trolls because he can “defend” himself from “attacks.”

He then criticized Oxford, one of the world’s top universities, as a school for “bobo (fools).”

Mr. Duterte also disclosed that he had some “followers” like blogger and entertainer Margaux “Mocha” Justiniano Uson — whom the President appointed as part of his communications team last May.

“Mocha has been with me during the campaign. She offered her services free,” Mr. Duterte said.

Ms. Uson — whose Facebook page has more than five million followers — manages the Palace’s social media.

She is also known for slamming journalists and news agencies that are critical of the Duterte administration.

According to the Oxford research, Mr. Duterte’s 400 to 500 cyber troops post nationalistic and pro-government comments and interact with dissenters through harassment and individual targeting. — Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

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