Tolentino to DFA: Summon Chinese envoy over socmed ops
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino wants the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian over his embassy’s employment of a firm to spread Beijing’s territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as well as discredit its critics.— File photo
DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino wants the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian over his embassy’s alleged employment of a firm to spread Beijing’s territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as well as discredit its critics.
Here at the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing on Friday, Tolentino urged Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo to invite Huang to explain the embassy’s actions.
“Kaya ako hinihiling ko sa (That’s why my request to the) DFA, kay Secretary Manalo, I call upon the good Secretary of Foreign Affairs, to summon today, Biyernes ngayon (it’s Friday today), the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to explain this interference in our domestic affairs, which is a clear transgression of our sovereignty,” Tolentino said.
“Isang karumal-dumal at nakaka-hindik na pagyapak sa ating kalayaan. Lahat pinakialaman nila,” he added.
(This is a severe abomination and a horrible intrusion into our freedoms. They are interfering in everything.)
Tolentino’s statements came after the Senate hearing discovered that China, through its embassy in the country, tapped Makati-based InfinitUs Marketing to spread pro-Beijing narratives and fake news campaigns targeting lawmakers who support Manila’s claims over the WPS.
The Philippine government maintains that the WPS is part of its territory, as it is within the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. However, China’s nine-dash line claim includes even the Philippines’ territorial waters.
READ: Senate inquiry brings up China-funded ‘troll farm’
Tolentino explained that InfinitUs started operating after Republic Act No. 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act was signed into law.
“Hindi lang sa atin dito sa bansa natin kun’di nagmumula sa China ‘yong kumpas kung ano ‘yong gagawin. Noong November 8, 2024, pinirmahan ‘yong Maritime Zones law. November 12, nagkaroonan ng order ang Chinese Embassy kung ano ‘yong gagawin, umulan na po ng batikos,” he said.
(It’s not only here in the country but the directives came from China. On November 8, 2024, we signed the Maritime Zones law. On November 12, there was an order on what the Chinese Embassy would do, and the criticisms soon began)
“May mga tao po nagpapanggap na tao na hindi (talaga normal na) tao. Nagpapanggap na estudyante, OFW (overseas Filipino workers), businessman, maestra. Nag-ugusap, nae-enganyo po ‘yong mga kababayan natin. In a matter of days, nag-report po ‘yong binanggit ko kahapon na kumpanya, nakaka-54,000 kaagad sila na organic,” he added.
(Some are trying to pose as normal people. They pose as students, OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), businesspeople, and teachers. They talk over social media and engage with our people. In a matter of days, the company I mentioned reported that they have generated over 54,000 organic posts.)
Tolentino said the company then reported to Huang about its accomplishments. As of Friday morning, Tolentino claimed that the company’s Facebook page has been taken down already.
“Nag-report sila sa Ambassador ng China, si Ambassador Huang na sinasabi lagi, ay patuloy ang pagkakaibigan ng Pilipina sa China. Subalit marami tayong mga kaibigang nalilinlang,” he said.
(They reported to the Ambassador of China, Ambassador Huang who always says that the Philippines continues to be friends with China. But a lot of people have been tricked.)
“Tinake-down na raw ‘yong Facebook kaninang umaga o kagabi, hindi pa sila nagre-reply, mukhang pinatawag ito, hindi pa rin nag-reply ang China,” he added.
(The Facebook page has been taken down earlier this morning but they have not replied, I think they were summoned. China has not replied yet.)
Earlier, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said that the company tapped by China should be charged with treason, along with Chinese embassy officers who contacted the firm.
READ: Rodriguez eyes treason rap vs firm tapped by China for socmed ops
Rodriguez also urged Tolentino to summon Infinitus officers and members of its board of directors during the next hearing so that they could explain the details of their engagement with the Chinese embassy.
Aside from China tapping a company to hit critics of its territorial claim, the National Security Council (NSC) also reported that they have seen indicators that Beijing is interfering in the May elections.
READ: China interfering with PH’s May 2025 polls, says NSC’s Malaya
During the same hearing, Tolentino asked NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya if there were any indicators showing foreign interference in the 2025 elections.
Malaya then replied that there are indications that “information operations are being conducted or that Chinese state-sponsored groups in the Philippines are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections.”
Tensions between the Philippines and China have been increasing in recent months, after local authorities reported Chinese aircraft and vessels continue to engage in aggressive and intrusive activities over the WPS.
Just this February, the Philippine Coast Guard spotted four Chinese vessels near Bajo de Masinloc, including the so-called monster ship — Chinese Coast Guard vessel CCG 5901.
Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal sits 124 nautical miles west of Zambales — which means it is inside the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Then last February 18, a Chinese military helicopter came as close as three meters above a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources plane which was conducting a maritime patrol of the Panatag Shoal, another sandbar located inside the EEZ.
