Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a full investigation into alleged Chinese interference in the country's upcoming May elections, following alarming reports from top security officials. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed the investigation, citing the urgency to "uncover the truth."
The order follows testimony from a National Security Council official at a Senate hearing, revealing signs of Chinese information operations. Senator Francis Tolentino presented alleged evidence linking the Chinese embassy in Manila to local "troll farm" operations, claiming the embassy funded a marketing firm to run online disinformation campaigns. Tolentino said these operations aimed to covertly influence Philippine public opinion and politics, presenting a cheque he said was issued by the embassy.
In response, China’s Foreign Ministry strongly denied the allegations, insisting it adheres to a strict policy of non-interference. Chinese embassy officials in Manila labeled the accusations as "heinous" and accused Filipino politicians of exploiting the "China card" to gain political advantage ahead of the elections.
At stake in the May polls are 317 congressional seats, thousands of local positions, and 12 Senate seats, with the Senate wielding significant influence over national policy. Tensions between Manila and Beijing have been running high due to ongoing disputes in the South China Sea, adding further strain to bilateral relations.
Senator Tolentino warned that China’s alleged interference was a "coordinated effort to undermine democracy," aiming to favor pro-China candidates, although he declined to name individuals.
