'Chinese gov't contracted Makati firm for troll farms'

A Senate probe yesterday uncovered China-sponsored troll farms hired to manipulate public opinion on social media, with a National Security Council (NSC) official suspecting that Beijing is engaged in information operations to interfere in the May elections.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino resumed a Senate special maritime committee investigation into alleged Chinese espionage activities through submersible drones and hacking activities.

During the hearing, Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the NSC, said "there are indications that information operations being done in the Philippines are Chinese state-sponsored and are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections."

There are "third party individuals and proxies" based in the Philippines that are used to "amplify" the "narratives coming out of Beijing," Malaya said.

He refused to confirm to reporters who these "influencers" are, adding in a separate chance interview that there are "alarming" reports of candidates in the May elections being funded by China.

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency deputy director general Francisco Ashley Acedillo said China's information warfare aims to "influence public opinion and political discourse on social media."

"We believe Chinese organs are amplifying a divisive political discourse in our country," Acedillo said.

The Senate panel found that Beijing has deployed a troll army of Filipino influencers and "proxies" to manipulate public opinion during the election period.

Tolentino presented a contract entered into by the Chinese embassy in the Philippines with Infinitus Marketing Solutions for the use of "keyboard warriors" to put China in a good light amid the Philippine government’s defense of the West Philippine Sea from China Coast Guard’s incursions.

“China’s government through its embassy is paying Filipino troll farms to oppose and smear the administration,” Tolentino said.

“Friends treat friends. It is a mockery of the Chinese embassy’s talk of friendship. We cannot turn a blind eye on this,” he added.

The Chinese embassy has not yet responded to reporters’ requests for comment.

Objective