Twitter suspends accounts defending Duterte’s COVID-19 response – report

MANILA, Philippines — Twitter has suspended accounts defending President Rodrigo Duterte under hashtags in support of the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response.

“Hundreds of accounts” were in violation of the social media platform’s manipulation and spam policies, according to a report from The Washington Post on Thursday.



Quoting Twitter, the report said behaviors that violate Twitter’s rules on spam include posting “duplicate” content across multiple accounts, creating multiple accounts and sending large numbers of unsolicited replies or mentions.

Under Twitter’s rules and policies on platform manipulation and spam, it is said that the platform may not be used  if it is “intended to artificially amplify or suppress information or engage in behavior that manipulates or disrupts people’s experience.”

This policy prohibits misleading others by “operating fake accounts” which engage in “spamming, abusive or disruptive behavior.”

Several hashtags in support and of dissent to the President recently climbed the top trending topics on Twitter Philippines following his late night public addresses on COVID-19.


These include #OustDuterte, #IStandWithThePresident, #ICantStandThePresident and #OursDuterte.

source: technology.inquirer.net

No more new hotel bookings allowed during Luzon quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Hotels and other similar establishments will no longer be allowed to accept new booking accommodations during the enhanced community quarantine of the entire island of Luzon due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole of Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine until April 12 to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, which has infected 187 in the country and killed 14.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said no hotels or similar establishment will be allowed to operate during the quarantine period, except those accommodating the following:

* guests who have existing booking accommodation for foreigners as of March 17

* guests who have existing long-term leases

* employees from exempted establishments under the provisions of March 16, 2020, memorandum from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and its subsequent modifications and clarifications.

Duterte’s order stopped all public transportation and strictly enforced home quarantine protocols.

Exempted from the work stoppage, however, are all businesses, services, and activities related to the production or provision of food, medicine and health, banking and finance, public utilities and mass media.

The President also allows BPO establishments and export-oriented industries to continue operations provided that they would observe “strict social distancing measures.”

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net