House Special Committee on Bases Conversion chairman Jay Khonghun of Zambales on Thursday warned against the growing influence of Chinese-backed disinformation in Philippine politics.
In a news release, Khonghun called on Filipinos to reject candidates and influencers aligned with Beijing’s agenda, asserting that their actions betray the very sovereignty that Filipino heroes died defending.
“Kung mahal mo ang Pilipinas, bomoto ka para sa Pilipinas at mga Pilipino. At kung tunay kang magiting, hindi ka mananahimik habang inuunti-unti tayong sinasakop ng kasinungalingan. Panahon na para tumindig. Hindi lang ito eleksyon—ito ang laban para sa ating Kalayaan (If you love the Philippines, vote for the Philippines and Filipinos. And if you’re really brave, you will not be silent while we are slowly being invaded by lies. It’s time to stand up. This is not simply the elections—this is also a fight for our Freedom),” Khonghun said.
“Ang tunay na magigiting, hindi nagpapagamit sa dayuhan. Sa katatapos lang na Araw ng Kagitingan, hindi natin dapat palampasin ang mga nagpapanggap na makabayan pero tahimik o pabor sa China. Hindi sila kakampi ng bayan (The real brave ones won’t be used by foreigners. We just celebrated Day of Valor, we should not let the pretend patriots who are quiet or are in favor of China to get away with what they’re doing. They are not for the country),” said Khonghun.
The remarks follow explosive revelations made during the April 8 hearing of the House Tri-Committee on Public Order, Public Information, and ICT, where Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela exposed how two known pro-Duterte bloggers — Anna Malindog-Uy and Ado Paglinawan — have been spreading narratives that echo Chinese propaganda, particularly to discredit the Philippines’ position in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Tarriela presented Malindog-Uy’s post that falsely framed the Philippine Coast Guard as the aggressor in a maritime collision with the China Coast Guard.
“Pag-aralan ninyo ang footage, sabi niya, parang tayo pa ang may kasalanan (Study the footage, what she says, it appears we are at fault),” Tarriela said.
He also cited Paglinawan’s post calling Philippine efforts to defend its maritime claims “lunacy.”
“Ito po ang mga halimbawa ng disinformation na direktang sumasalungat sa interes ng ating bansa (These examples of disinformation directly go against the interest of our country),” Tarriela told lawmakers.
Khonghun echoed Tarriela’s concern and emphasized that the disinformation coming from these influencers is not just misinformation—it is part of a larger, coordinated effort by foreign actors. “Kung parehong pro-Duterte at pro-China ang content nila, hindi na tayo dapat magtaka—iisa lang ang amo nila. At hindi Pilipino ’yon (If their content are both pro-Duterte and pro-China, we should not be surprised—they have one boss. And he’s not Filipino).”
According to investigative reports by PressOne. PH, a network of pro-China X (formerly Twitter) accounts has been systematically attacking President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. while amplifying content favorable to Vice President Sara Duterte.
The accounts shared synchronized posts, including the fake “polvoron” video falsely implicating President Marcos in drug use, Chinese-language articles attacking U.S. involvement in Philippine maritime affairs, and pro-Duterte stories that conspicuously ignore China’s incursions in the WPS.
“Kapag tahimik sa West Philippine Sea pero maingay sa paninira sa presidente, alam na natin kung sino ang pinoprotektahan (If you’re quiet in the West Philippine Sea but loud in demolishing the president, we know who they’re protecting),” Khonghun said. “’Wag tayong magpabola sa mga kandidatong ang pinagsisilbihan pala ay banyagang interes (Let’s not be fooled by candidates who serve foreign interests).”
Independent investigations further support the existence of a sustained and strategic campaign to undermine Philippine democracy.
“Ang ginagawa ng China ay hindi simpleng pakikialam. Isa itong sistematikong kampanya para gawing sunod-sunuran ang mga lider natin, habang inaagaw ang teritoryo natin (China is not simply interfering. This is a systematic campaign to make our leaders subservient while they are grabbing up our territory),” Khonghun warned.
“Hindi malayong China ang sumusuporta sa mga kandidato na kalaban ng administrasyon sa Senado. Balikan natin, sila rin ang tahimik o kampi sa China sa bawat usapin ng West Philippine Sea. ’Wag na tayong palinlang. Hindi sila para sa bayan (It is not unlikely that China is supporting anti-administration senatorial candidates. Let’s re-examine them, they are also quiet about or in favor of China in the issue of the West Philippine Sea. Let us not be fooled. They are not pro-people),” Khonghun said.
Khonghun urged voters to apply the true spirit of the Araw ng Kagitingan last Wednesday by rejecting these candidates. “Hindi sapat na bumoto—dapat alam mo kung sino ang binoboto mo. Hindi porke’t kilala sa YouTube o may ‘tapang at malasakit’ e para na sa bayan. Tanungin natin: sa tapang nila, kaninong interes ang pinoprotektahan? (It is not enough that we vote—study who you’re voting for. Just because you know them on YouTube or they have ‘guts and compassion’ does not mean they are for the country. Let’s ask: in their bluster, whose interest are they protecting?).”
