MANILA — China is allegedly funding a local troll farm to spread pro-Beijing propaganda, attack Filipino officials, and influence the upcoming midterm elections, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino revealed in explosive testimony on Wednesday.

During the third hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones, Tolentino presented documents purportedly linking the Chinese Embassy in Manila to a Makati-based firm—Infinitus Marketing Solutions Inc.—which he said was hired to execute a “covert disinformation and influence operation” targeting the Philippine government.

“This is not your run-of-the-mill PR campaign,” Tolentino said. “This is China paying for a full-fledged troll operation to divide, disinform, and destabilize.”

According to Tolentino, Infinitus was contracted by the Chinese Embassy in August 2023 to run a network of Filipino keyboard warriors—paid up to ₱34,000 a month—to impersonate ordinary citizens online and promote pro-China narratives. As financial proof, Tolentino cited a ₱930,000 check issued to Infinitus by the Chinese Embassy in September 2023.

The alleged troll operation is said to focus on downplaying China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea, undermining newly enacted maritime laws, and attacking Philippine leaders—including President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

One viral post cited by Tolentino reads: “Bongbong Marcos is continuing the plunder of his father. Like father, like son.”

Tolentino also warned that the trolls disguise themselves as teachers, soldiers, or OFWs on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), where fake accounts amass tens of thousands of “friends.”

Revelations ‘Consistent’ with China’s Objectives – Malaya

National Security Council official Jonathan Malaya supported the senator’s claims, calling the revelations “consistent with how the People’s Republic of China operates.”

“The battlefield today is the information space,” Malaya said, describing the effort as a classic “influence operation” designed to shape public opinion and advance Beijing’s strategic goals.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia confirmed receiving intelligence reports about a “big country” attempting to interfere in the May 12 national and local polls through social media bots and trolls.

“They want to condition the public to accept certain outcomes and reject others,” Garcia said, urging the public not to believe everything they see online.

Tolentino said the troll farm’s messaging aims to make Filipinos question their allies and create confusion over the country’s maritime policies.

Among the flagged narratives were expressions of support for China’s claims in the West Philippine Sea and opposition to the joint U.S.-Philippine “Balikatan” military exercises—framed by trolls as threats to regional stability.

Malaya noted that similar talking points are often echoed by “local proxies” and influencers. “Their scripts come straight from Beijing,” he said.

Chinese Cyber-Operations Breached Government Sites – NICA

Intelligence officials warned that China’s activities extend beyond disinformation campaigns.

Ashley Acedillo, deputy director general of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), testified that Chinese cyber-operatives—including hacker groups “Aquatic Panda” and “Mustang Panda”—had breached dozens of government websites over the past year, stealing gigabytes of sensitive data.

Between August and December 2023 alone, 3.6 GB of data was exfiltrated from one agency and transmitted to a Hong Kong-based IP address.

“There are certain personalities that are tied to a nexus of Chinese official and unofficial networks here in the Philippines. They have been identified. They are Filipinos who talk to identified Chinese personalities, both official and unofficial, here in our country,” Acedillo said.

With the midterm elections just weeks away, Philippine officials are calling for a whole-of-government response to fight foreign disinformation, election interference, and cyber-espionage.

“There is a technology component to it. There is a law enforcement component to it. And there is also a regulatory component to it,” Acedillo added.

Tolentino concluded with a sharp rebuke: “China says we’re friends. But this? This is not what friends do.”

As of writing, the Chinese Embassy has not responded to requests for comment. No representatives from the embassy or Infinitus attended the Senate hearing.

📷 Francis Tolentino FB