Top officials of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday, September 12 expressed their belief China is behind a disinformation campaign on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

PCG Commodore Jay Tariella disclosed this during the hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, saying the agency is aware some Filipinos are actually supportive of China’s attempt to sow wrong information on the issue.

When Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, chairman of the national defense panel, asked if it was former presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao, Tariella said:

“If he doesn’t suport the stand of the Philippine government in the West Philippine Sea, we can say he is. He can be categorically belonging to that group sir.”

Presssed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros to reveal his source of information, Tariella said it was his friends in different news organizations.

“The only information we have received is through our media friends, wherein some of the journalists that we know that supports the efforts of the Philippine government in the West Philippine Sea have received emails trying to divert their attention, the focus of the Filipino people,” Tariella said.

“Instead of concentrating ong the aggressive actions of China, they are diverting it to Vietnam, So for the PCG, that’s only the information that we have,” he further said.

But according to Tariella, such kind of disinformation will not happen if there is no “state actor” behind such campaign.

“Based on my personal understanding, of course this kind of information operation will not be happening unless it’s supported by state actors,” the PCG spokesman said.

Also during the hearing, Admiral Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant, thanked senators for their tireless efforts in giving valuable attention to the needs of the PCG to improve national peace and security through infrastructure.

Abu stressed that investing in infrastructure has a multiplier effect in terms of generating employment, increasing foreign exchange earnings, and stimulating the local economy.

“This is in addition to giving our uniformed personnel better facilities to increase their productivity and output performance,” Abu said.

“The PCG looks forward to collaborating with the esteemed members of the Senate and relevant authorities to refine and implement these bills effeectively, ultimately bolstering our national defense and safeguarding our sovereign interests in these critical waters,” he added.

“Rest assured the PCG will continue to work hard to protect the interests and rights of the Philippines over waters under Philippine jurisdiction and continue to adhere to our mandate of saving lives and property at sea,” the PCG chief stressed.

For its part, the Department of National Defense (DND) assured the Senate it is exerting all efforts to counter China’s attempt to disseminate fake news by propagating correct information.

“Alam natin na ang mabisang panlaban sa (We know that the best way to fight) fake news or disinformation is more correct information,” DND Undersecretary for Strategic Assessments and Planning Ignacio B. Madriaga

Madriaga said the DND is heeding the call of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro not to listen to any statement that would further divide Filipinos.

“Ang tutukan natin is papano natin mapalakas yung national interest po natin. Huwag natin palawakin ang diskusyon na naghahati-hati po sa Pilipino (We will focus on how to strengthen our national interest. Let’s not dwell on discussions that would only further divide Filipinos),” he said.

“So kami po sa (We in the) DND, we recognize that there are certain narratives that are being foisted in social media that actually creates division among our people that's why we come out with statements together with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) that would unite the narratives toward what is the national interest of the Philippines instead of narratives that divide us.

“Our diplomats in the DFA and other members of the NTF-WPS, we combine together to propagate the correct narrative that we are on the right based on UNCLOS and the Arbitral Ruling,” Madriaga stressed.