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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Disinformation campaign vs. Comelec highlights need to protect Philippine's 'digital sovereignty'—Tolentino

Disinformation campaign vs. Comelec highlights need to protect Philippine's 'digital sovereignty'—Tolentino

Published May 6, 2025 04:45 pm

At A Glance

  • "It is about time that we really involve national sovereignty side by side with our digital sovereignty," reelectionist Sen. Francis Tolentino said.

The spate of disinformation campaign against the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) through social media amid the country’s preparations for the May 12 midterm elections underscores the need to protect the Philippines’ digital space from foreign intervention.

Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino made the remark during the Senate inquiry on Chinese espionage and interference in the country’s internal affairs held on Monday, May 5.

During the hearing, Comelec chief George Erwin Garcia disclosed that the Comelec has been constantly targeted by disinformation operations in social media that seek to undermine the public’s trust in the integrity of the coming elections.

Many of these attacks have been linked to troll operations based in foreign countries, mainly China, according to the reelectionist senator.

The attacks had also coincided with the arrest of a Chinese national caught using an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) catcher near the Comelec premises last week.

“It is about time that we really involve national sovereignty side by side with our digital sovereignty,” Tolentino said.

“Pinapatrolya natin ang karagatan (we are patrolling our seas), (our) Coast Guard Navy, PNP Maritime Group. Pero (But) is there a cyber patrol out there?” he pointed out.

That is why protecting the country's “digital sovereignty” is incorporated in Senate Bill No. 2951, or the Counter Foreign Interference Act, which he had filed.

“We have to bear in mind that cyber sovereignty is our right to govern our digital space. Kung pinapasok tayo ng mga ito [pro-China troll operations], hindi na natin maintindihan kung ano ang totoo at hindi [sa social media]. Nawawalan na tayo ng sovereignty doon (If we are infiltrated by pro-China troll operations, we no longer understand what is real and not on social media. We are losing sovereignty then),” he explained.

The measure also guards against the use of harmful electronic communications; requiring internet service providers to block, among others, access to electronic communications that are "prejudicial to national security and public safety.”

“Foreign interference is ongoing, even though in a digital space. It undermines the sovereignty of our country, our institutions, as well as society itself,” Tolentino stressed.

The lawmaker also said Filipinos conspiring with these troll farm operations constitutes the highest form of betrayal to one's flag.

Tolentino is referring to the troll farm operation he exposed between InfinitUs Marketing Solutions, Inc. (IMSI)  and the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

“Marami pang mga katulad ng InfinitUs out there na hindi pa natin nakikilala. Marami pang drones ngayon na nasa ilalim ng ating karagatan na hindi pa nahuhuli. Marami pang mga IMSI catchers na gumagala sa ating paligid (There are many more like InfinitUs out there that we haven't identified yet. There are many more drones now under our oceans that haven't been caught yet. There are many more IMSI catchers roaming around us),” the senator warned.

Related Tags

fake news disinformation campaign digital sovereignty Francis Tolentino May 2025 elections Comelec
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