Allegations Surface Regarding Financially Supported Digital Operations by China, Allegedly Aiding Candidates Backed by Duterte
In the heat of the 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines, a disturbing allegation has surfaced. On May 10, Dillan Mangilit, a registered voter, lodged a complaint with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) claiming a coordinated digital propaganda operation, seemingly funded by China, to boost candidates endorsed by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The accused candidates include Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte II, Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, Sebastian Zimmerman Duterte, Philip "Ipe" Salvador, Doc Marites Mata, Jimmy Bondoc, Vic Rodriguez, Bong Go, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Raul Lambino, Jayvee Hinlo, Rodante Marcoleta, Apollo Quiboloy, and Omar Vincent Duterte. The complaint alleges that these candidates received undue advantage due to the amplification of their campaign content by automated social media accounts, suspected to be funded by foreign actors.
This malicious practice, according to the complaint, violates the Fair Election Act. It argues that such artificial boosting of posts can alter the public narrative and undermine fair access to information, potentially skewing the election results. The complaint also refers to Section 261 (z)(8) of the Omnibus Election Code, which bars candidates from receiving foreign political contributions.
The allegations come after an April investigation by analytics firm Cyabra which uncovered that roughly a third of online defense of Duterte over his International Criminal Court case was from fake or automated/bot profiles. These fakes were responsible for over 7,000 engagements, possibly reaching more than 11.8 million views, stoking controversy over their influence on public opinion.
Apart from these automated accounts, there have also been accusations of troll farms, allegedly linked to China's embassy in Manila, conducting coordinated propaganda operations. The senate has been urged to address this issue, with Senator Francis Tolentino requesting a probe into possible foreign actor-enabled election interference.
The complaint encourages Comelec to validate the evidence, investigate the campaign activities of the respondents, and pursue administrative or criminal proceedings where necessary. It also recommends referring the case to the Department of Justice, the cybercrime division of the Philippine National Police, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology for further investigations into potential cybercrimes.
Though foreign election interference isn't explicitly prohibited under existing Philippine laws, the complainant argues that it undermines the integrity of the 2025 elections and thereby, the legitimacy of Philippine democracy. This situation highlights the urgent need for legislation like the proposed Foreign Interference Act to safeguard the electoral process from foreign manipulation.
- The disturbing allegation in the 2025 Philippine midterm elections involves a coordinated digital propaganda operation, seemingly funded by China, aiming to boost candidates endorsed by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
- The candidates accused include Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte II, Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, Sebastian Zimmerman Duterte, Philip "Ipe" Salvador, Doc Marites Mata, Jimmy Bondoc, Vic Rodriguez, Bong Go, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Raul Lambino, Jayvee Hinlo, Rodante Marcoleta, Apollo Quiboloy, and Omar Vincent Duterte. They are alleged to have received undue advantage due to the amplification of their campaign content by automated social media accounts.
- According to the complaint, this malicious practice violates the Fair Election Act and can alter the public narrative, potentially skewing election results by undermining fair access to information.
- The complaint also refers to Section 261 (z)(8) of the Omnibus Election Code, which bars candidates from receiving foreign political contributions.
- Apart from automated accounts, there have been accusations of troll farms, allegedly linked to China's embassy in Manila, conducting coordinated propaganda operations.
- The senate has been urged to address this issue, with Senator Francis Tolentino requesting a probe into possible foreign actor-enabled election interference.
- The complainant argues that foreign election interference undermines the integrity of the 2025 elections and thereby, the legitimacy of Philippine democracy, highlighting the urgent need for legislation like the proposed Foreign Interference Act to safeguard the electoral process from foreign manipulation, falling under the categories of general news, politics, crime and justice, and policy and legislation.
