Former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos is asking his supporters to give Rappler "another chance" after a big number of netizens bashed the controversial online news site for allegedly manipulating an online presidential poll survey.

(Photo Courtesy: Rappler)

"Let us give Rappler another chance," said Marcos, who is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas for president in the 2022 polls.

"Those behind the manipulation of a simple exercise to get the voters' pulse on the 2022 presidential race might have been overwhelmed by their desire to accomplish whatever mission assigned to them," he said.

"So, let's give them another chance to find honesty in their heart," Marcos added.

Rappler came under fire from netizens after it stopped its online poll survey over Facebook that showed Marcos leading Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo. Also, a big number of those who chose Leni had names that were not Filipino or looked like fake accounts.

Netizens later accused Rappler of manipulating its online poll survey to favor Robredo.

A similar poll ran by The Manila Bulletin in its Facebook page showed Marcos overwhelmingly leading Robredo or 469,000 to 158,000 votes.

Rappler apologized for the gaffe but a bigger number of netizens did not accept the online new site's explanation and justification for ending its online poll survey.

Rappler is lead by Maria Ressa who was recently given the Nobel Peace Prize award.