Alyansa bets warn public about Chinese interference in polls

Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates. File photo.

LUCENA CITY, Quezon Province — Senatorial candidates of administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas warned the public against growing foreign efforts to influence the 2025 midterm elections, saying China’s interference is now “too obvious” to ignore.

READ: Tolentino bares evidence of China troll farm to discredit PH gov’t

In a press conference held in Lucena City on Friday, the senatorial aspirants one by one shared their sentiments on the matter.

“Masyado namang obvious na, na talaga namang nakikialam ang China. Hindi ba pati sa election, based on the reports of the National Security Council and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency? Mahirap na itong itanggi,” former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto said.

(It’s too obvious that China is indeed interfering. Isn’t it also interfering in the election, based on the reports of the National Security Council and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency? It’s hard to deny it.)

Sotto said that if elected, he will oppose any attempt to revive policies that may serve foreign interests.

“Ako, sisiguraduhin kong hindi ma-repeal ’yang Philippine Maritime Zones Act. Kursunada ’yun ng mga pro-China senators. Hinding-hindi ko papayagang ma-repeal ’yun,” he said.

(I will make sure that the Philippine Maritime Zones Act will not  be repealed. That is what the pro-China senators are trying to do. I will never allow it to be repealed.)

Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, for his part, said the country’s anti-espionage law, Commonwealth Act No. 616 of 1941, is outdated and no longer responsive to modern threats.

“You just can imagine, it’s about time i-amend natin o i-repeal natin ang napakalumang legislation to be attuned sa time,” Lacson said.

(You can just imagine, it’s about time we amend or repeal the old legislation to be attuned to the times,)

“Noong araw wala pa namang social media, wala pa itong modern information technology,” he pointed out.

(Back then, there was no social media, there was no modern information technology.)

Meanwhile, former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos warned that election interference happens not only through spying, but also through information warfare and questionable funding.

Lastly, ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo warned voters against electing candidates who remain silent on Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea or foreign influence operations.

Earlier, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya dropped a bombshell at the Senate’s special panel on maritime and admiralty zones’ hearing, saying that China is dipping its toes in the Philippines’ midterm polls.

“There are indications that information operations are being conducted or that Chinese state-sponsored in the Philippines are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections,” said Malaya during the hearing.

Sen. Francis Tolentino, who was presiding over the hearing as panel head chair, asked if China has ongoing operations to support candidates that they want to win and control candidates whom they do not prefer.

To which Malaya answered in the affirmative.

China, for its part, brushed off the reports, saying that it has no interest in interfering with Philippine elections.