The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has publicly declared its full endorsement of legislative efforts to combat foreign state-sponsored disinformation, specifically targeting what it perceives as a coordinated campaign by China to undermine Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. In an official statement, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the AFP spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, voiced the military’s support for the calls led by House Spokesperson Representative Robert Ace Barbers. Trinidad emphasized that the defense of the nation’s maritime interests is no longer confined to physical confrontations in the water or air but has extended into the digital and information domains, where deceptive narratives can be just as damaging to national security. The AFP’s backing signals a unified stance among the country’s security and legislative branches to treat information warfare as a critical front in the ongoing territorial disputes, recognizing that public perception and national unity are key targets of foreign interference.
The legislative move, spearheaded by Representative Barbers, urges the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and other regulatory bodies to take decisive and concrete actions against online platforms that are linked to the dissemination of Chinese propaganda. Barbers specifically identified the Facebook page “Media Unlocked” as a prime example of a platform spreading misinformation about the West Philippine Sea, calling for the NTC to apply the same stringent restrictions it uses for pornographic sites to these deceptive pages. Beyond just censoring content, Barbers advocates for a more educational approach by proposing an official, frame-by-frame explainer that would systematically debunk misleading claims. This explanatory tool would serve to arm the Filipino public, particularly the youth, with the critical thinking skills needed to distinguish between factual reporting and fake news, thereby building a more resilient and informed citizenry that is less susceptible to foreign manipulation. The request underscores a dual strategy of both shutting down sources of disinformation and proactively educating the public to recognize and reject such propaganda.
The AFP elaborated on the nature of these Foreign Malign Influence (FMI) operations, warning that they are sophisticated and multi-faceted, utilizing coordinated online proxy accounts, deceptive media outlets, and psychological manipulation tactics. Rear Admiral Trinidad detailed that the ultimate goals of these operations are to create deep divisions within the nation, erode public trust in national security institutions, manipulate public opinion, and provide a false justification for China’s unlawful activities within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He stressed the urgent need for the nation to officially recognize FMI as a direct national security threat, a designation that would elevate its importance and justify a more aggressive and coordinated response from all branches of government. The military’s description paints a picture of a persistent and calculated enemy that uses information as a weapon not only to win international sympathy but also to weaken the Philippines from within, making domestic unity a primary battlefield.
The AFP’s statement was timely, coming just days after it had to actively counter a narrative pushed by the Chinese Embassy in Manila regarding the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. Over the weekend, the Chinese Embassy posted its own historical account, claiming that the Philippines deliberately grounded the World War II-era warship in May 1999 under the false pretense of “leaking problems” and “emergency repairs.” The embassy added that China had immediately protested and repeatedly demanded that the vessel be towed away, a promise they allege the Philippines has failed to keep for 27 years. This attempt to rewrite history was a direct challenge to the Philippines’ justification for its military outpost, framing its presence as a unilateral and deceptive act rather than a lawful assertion of sovereign rights.
In a strong rebuttal, the AFP countered the Chinese narrative by highlighting Beijing’s own track record of deception in the region, pointing to the stark transformation of Mischief Reef as a case study. The military recalled that in 1995, when China first occupied the feature, its officials assured the Philippines and the international community that the small wooden structures they built were merely “shelters for local fishermen” with no military purpose. Today, however, the AFP noted that these “shelters” have been developed into a massive, fortified military installation, complete with a 3,000-meter runway, missile emplacements, radar domes, and naval berths. The AFP presented this as a “permanent, concrete monument to their deceptive strategy,” underscoring the stark contrast between China’s words and actions, and serving as a powerful example of the disinformation tactics the country is fighting against.
The AFP further asserted the legality of its own deployment, stating that the BRP Sierra Madre’s presence on Ayungin Shoal is a “lawful, permanent sovereign deployment” and rejected any claim that Manila is bound to remove it. This position is anchored in the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its EEZ and declared that Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within that zone, rendering China’s claims devoid of legal basis. The military’s firm stance is that there is no binding commitment to remove the ship, reinforcing that its presence is a matter of legal standing and national sovereignty, not a broken promise. By drawing this legal distinction and contrasting it with China’s illegal island-building, the AFP is effectively framing the debate not as a dispute over broken promises, but as a confrontation between lawful behavior and outright aggression.
Ultimately, the AFP’s support for the lawmakers’ call signifies a decisive step toward a cohesive “whole of government” strategy to counter information warfare. By pushing for the official classification of Foreign Malign Influence as a national security threat, the military, alongside the legislature, is advocating for a coordinated response that goes beyond military posturing. The approach involves regulating online spaces, enhancing public media literacy, and aggressively correcting false narratives with factual and legal arguments. This multi-pronged strategy acknowledges that the fight for the West Philippine Sea is as much about winning hearts and minds, both domestically and internationally, as it is about protecting territory. The AFP’s proactive rebuttal of the Chinese Embassy’s claims demonstrates their commitment to this battle, ensuring that misleading narratives do not go unchallenged and that the Filipino public remains informed and united in defending their nation’s rights.
