Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745560387994CHINA FLAG.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Chinese flag is pictured in front of the facade of the Chinese embassy in Berlin on April 22, 2024. John Macdougall, AFP/File  </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2rd UPDATE) </strong>— Malacañang on Friday expressed alarm over reports that China was supposedly interfering in the Philippines’ 2025 midterm elections.</p><p>National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya earlier warned there are indications that information operations are being conducted “that are Chinese state sponsored in the Philippines and are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections.”</p><p>He noted certain narratives from Beijing were being amplified by third party individuals or local proxies in the Philippines.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/24/nsc-flags-possible-chinese-interference-in-philippine-elections-1048">NSC flags possible Chinese interference in Philippine elections</a></div><p>“Ito po ay talagang nakakaalarma at paiigtingin pa po natin ang—sa utos na rin po ng ating administrasyon na imbestigahan nang malalim para malaman po natin kung anuman ang katotohanan patungkol po dito,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Malacanang briefing.</p><p>(This is really alarming and — as ordered by the administration — there will be a thorough investigation into this)</p><p>Castro said the report has reached President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. </p><p>“Dahil nga kahapon po ito nangyari at nagkaroon ng pag-iimbestiga, nakarating na po ito sa Pangulo kaya po kailangan po talaga ng maagaran, mas malalim na pag-iimbestiga,” she said.</p><p>(This has reached the President and there will be a swift and thorough investigation)</p><div><strong>SENATORS CALL FOR THOROUGH PROBE</strong></div><p>Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Friday joined calls for a thorough investigation into attempts &quot;to influence our democratic process, whether they are foreign entities or local collaborators.&quot;</p><p>He said that Filipinos have already been misled by Alice Guo — the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac accused of being a Chinese national and spy — and that that should never happen again.</p><p>&quot;We will not tolerate any foreign interference in our internal affairs. We demand respect for our sovereignty and the right of every Filipino to freely choose their leaders—free from any intimidation, manipulation, or coercion,&quot; he said.</p><p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros — a member of the Senate minority who has been a vocal critic of China and its activities in the West Philippine Sea as well as of China-linked Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators — on Friday called on the NSC, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Commission on Elections to investigate the matter.</p><p>&quot;Malacañang must also summon the Chinese ambassador. At the Senate, we should also work on passing the Foreign Interference Act into law because this will not be the last elections that China, or any other State, could meddle with,&quot; she also said.</p><p>Hontiveros added Filipinos found to be &quot;colluding&quot; with foreign powers should be held accountable for &quot;[undermining] the integrity not just of our national elections, but also of our democracy.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/25/us-did-not-deny-alleged-black-propaganda-vs-china-vaccine-ph-officials-1117">US did not deny alleged black propaganda vs China vaccine: PH officials</a></div><p>Sen. Joel Villanueva also echoed calls for an investigation, saying &quot;[a]ny foreign interference, especially in our elections, is an affront to our democracy.</p><p>China’s Foreign Ministry has denied the allegations, saying <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/25/china-says-has-no-interest-in-interfering-in-philippine-elections-0842">Beijing has “no interest in interfering</a> in Philippine elections.”</p><p>“China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/25/alyansa-urges-probe-into-reported-china-interference-in-midterm-polls-1301">Alyansa urges probe into reported &#x27;China interference&#x27; in midterm polls</a></div><div><strong>ALLEGED CHINESE DISINFORMATION IN TAIWAN, US POLLS</strong></div><p>The Taiwan FactCheck Center reported last November that it had monitored &quot;Chinese false information narratives propagated on social media or websites&quot; during the US election campaign.</p><p>These included attacks on candidates, misrepresentation of policies, casting doubt on election integrity, and stoking fear &quot;about the outcome of the election if a specific candidate was elected.&quot;</p><p>It said the most common tactic used in these false narratives was &quot;distorting statements or providing incomplete information and images.&quot;</p><p>The center also monitored disinformation during Taiwan&#x27;s own elections in January 2024. Among the narratives highlighted were &quot;anxiety&quot; about a potential war with China.</p><p>Common themes in the disinformation pieces that it had fact-checked were that the Taiwanese military is too weak, the People’s Republic of China’s is too formidable, and that the US cannot protect Taiwan and would abandon it.</p><p>&quot;In 2023, a pivotal year before the 2024 Taiwanese presidential election, when the outcome may affect Taiwan’s relations with China and the US, the disinformation trend focusing on the coming conflict between China and Taiwan [intensified],&quot; it said in its report.</p><p>&quot;Similar disinformation aimed at instilling fear [have] surfaced whenever critical local or international events occur.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1250" height="703" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xs7Goiay33g" title="NSC accuses China of interfering in PH midterm elections | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1250" height="703" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BH6jTRuTPrE" title="China says has &#x27;no interest&#x27; in interfering in Philippine elections | TeleRadyo Serbisyo" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Malacanang on Friday expressed alarm over reports that China was supposedly interfering in the Philippines' 2025 midterm elections.</p>

Malacanang on Friday expressed alarm over reports that China was supposedly interfering in the Philippines' 2025 midterm elections.

Palace alarmed over claims of Chinese interference in Philippine elections

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Palace alarmed over claims of Chinese interference in Philippine elections

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 25, 2025 01:54 PM PHT

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Updated April 25, 2025 05:36 PM PHT

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