Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday, April 24, revealed documents alleging that the People’s Republic of China has been financing troll farms operating in the Philippines through its embassy in Manila.

Tolentino disclosed this during the Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones hearing, wherein he said the campaign reportedly funded local troll farms to manipulate public discourse, attack Philippine policies, and undermine national sovereignty.

According to documents presented during the inquiry, a Makati-based firm, Infinitus Marketing Solutions, entered into a service contract in August 2023 with the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.

The agreement detailed payments amounting to P930,000 for the provision of “keyboard warriors,” or individuals hired to disseminate propaganda and misinformation across social media platforms.

Tolentino presented a copy of the contract and a corresponding check issued by the embassy.

"So nakita natin ang services na ginagawa ng Infinitus, hindi po ito normal public relations, hindi po ito normal PR campaign (So we saw the services being done by Infinitus, this is not a normal public relations, this is not a normal PR campaign)," he said.

The troll farm allegedly managed over 300 fake social media accounts, with monthly reports submitted to embassy officials.

In a detailed breakdown, Tolentino explained how the troll farms operated by Infinitus utilized hundreds of fake social media accounts to impersonate Filipino citizens, including teachers and overseas Filipino workers. These fake personas were used to stir public debate, spread false narratives, and create division within the country.

Tolentino revealed that they even boasted about the extensive reach of their efforts, claiming about 50,000 people "entangled in their web of deceit".

"China does not want the Philippines to have the means to defend its territory and sovereignty," Tolentino said.

"They manufacture fake social media content against the Philippine government's policy, pretending to be motivated about concerns about peace in the region," he added.

The revelation comes at a time when tensions between China and the Philippines are high due to ongoing disputes over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The Philippine government has taken several steps to strengthen its territorial claims, including the signing of the Maritime Zones Law in November 2024, which China has repeatedly opposed.