Summary: House Officials Urge Crackdown on China Propaganda Pages Spreading WPS Misinformation
In a decisive move to safeguard national sovereignty and counter the rising tide of digital disinformation, officials of the Philippine House of Representatives have strongly called upon the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and other government agencies to take decisive action against China propaganda pages that have been actively spreading misinformation about the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue. The lawmakers emphasized that these efforts are crucial in protecting the country’s territorial integrity and ensuring that the public, especially the youth, remains well-informed against foreign propaganda. The call was led by key figures in the House, each underscoring the urgent need to address this insidious form of information warfare that has targeted the Philippines.
House prosecution panel adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers led the charge, proposing that the NTC should block these China misinformation pages with the same severity and efficiency with which it handles the takedown of pornographic websites. Barbers argued that the government already has mechanisms to restrict access to harmful online content, and it should apply the same standards to these malicious propaganda pages that undermine the country’s claims and sow confusion among Filipinos. In a bold statement, Barbers suggested that following or subscribing to such deceptive pages should be viewed as an act of disloyalty to the nation. He made it clear that the spread of these falsehoods directly threatens the country’s interests and the morale of its people who are fighting for their legitimate rights over the WPS.
Barbers elaborated on the technical aspects of the proposed action, stating that the NTC has the authority to issue orders compelling internet service providers (ISPs) to block specific websites and pages that violate national interests, even as he acknowledged that the regulatory body’s power is not absolute and may be challenged in court. However, he stressed the importance of proactive measures, suggesting that alongside blocking, the government should consider a counter-propaganda approach. “They should take it down, or better yet, before taking it down, an explainer from our end will discuss frame by frame the misinformation they’re spreading, just like what the Chinese girl in the video is doing,” he said. He emphasized that this dual strategy of removal and education would empower the Filipino people, particularly the youth, to critically analyze information and distinguish fake news from the truth.
To illustrate his point, Barbers cited a specific video that had been circulating online. The video allegedly showed a Philippine vessel that had “intruded” into what China calls the “Chinese territorial waters of Huangyang Island,” which is the Chinese name for Bajo de Masinloc, a feature well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The video falsely insinuated that the Philippine vessel deliberately cut across the sailing path of a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship, supposedly provoking a water cannon response that was then captured by a CNN crew. The propaganda video claimed that Manila was putting on a performance for its allies, stating, “Manila wanted to put on a tough performance and win support from its boss, but the performance fell flat,” referring to the alleged incident during the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting. Barbers asserted that such blatant falsehoods must be countered with fact, not just blocked.
Echoing Barbers’ sentiments, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list Rep. Leila de Lima delivered a scathing condemnation of the Facebook page and similar platforms for peddling lies about the Philippines’ exercise of its sovereignty in the WPS. “We condemn this kind of content that clearly peddles fake news and disinformation about what is really happening in the [WPS]. Such content echoes China’s propaganda and misleads the public by justifying its hostilities and incursions into Philippine territory,” she asserted. De Lima called on the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and other concerned agencies to maintain strict vigilance and proactively monitor not just these specific pages but also any similar content that might emerge. She urged them to “urgently implement the necessary measures to prevent the spread of fake news and disinformation,” while also advocating for stronger collaboration with digital platforms to remove such content at the source.
De Lima stressed the importance of a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, reiterating that the fight is not just a legal or political one, but also a battle for the minds of the people. She stated, “Kung hindi tumitigil ang China sa panggigipit at pag-angkin sa hindi nila pagmamay-ari, at tuloy-tuloy ang pagpapakalat ng ganyang mga kasinungalingan, dapat lang na maging seryoso at mas agresibo pa ang gobyerno sa pagpapaunawa sa ating mamamayan, lalo na sa kabataan, sa halaga ng pagtatanggal ng ating teritoryo.” This sentiment was shared by House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, who added a security dimension to the call. Ridon said the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Security Council (NSC) must also take an active role in flagging such content that threatens national security.
Ridon proposed that the DND and NSC should actively flag all social media pages and content that propagate fake news, misinformation, and disinformation about the nation’s rights over the WPS. “They should make representations before social media platforms for the removal of these pages and content on the basis of fake news, misinformation and disinformation,” he argued. The collective call from these legislators highlights a growing recognition that information warfare is a serious component of modern geopolitical conflicts. As the Philippines continues to assert its rights under international law, the battle against false narratives is considered as critical as naval patrols and diplomatic protests. The lawmakers’ demands signal a unified front against disinformation and a clear warning that those who seek to distort the truth about the West Philippine Sea will be met with firm and concerted opposition.