House leaders have called for a thorough investigation in the next Tri Comm hearing into alleged Chinese-backed disinformation campaigns on social media, particularly their links to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute and political propaganda benefiting certain individuals in the country, a press release from the House of Representatives said.
1RIDER Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, a member of the 11-man House Prosecution Panel against Vice President Sara Duterte, underscored the urgent need to address how paid social media personalities and influencers amplify such narratives, warning that foreign entities should not be allowed to buy influence and distort public perception.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong emphasized the gravity of this disinformation network, particularly as the nation approaches the 2025 elections.
“We need to regulate this dissemination of mal-information, disinformation,” Adiong said, pointing out that propaganda-driven falsehoods erode democracy and undermine national security.
The Tri Comm of the House of Representatives, which is leading the probe, has discovered how disinformation networks actively manipulate online discourse to mislead the public.
PressOne.PH, in its presentation at the last Tri Comm hearing, exposed a massive disinformation campaign fueled by Chinese-controlled social media accounts.
Their investigation uncovered over 107 fake X (formerly Twitter) accounts with Chinese names that were initially created for Spanish-speaking audiences but have now been repurposed to spread falsehoods about the WPS issue and amplify pro-Duterte propaganda.
With several social media influencers previously refusing to attend the Tri Comm hearings, Adiong warned that the House committee could soon escalate their legal actions.
The refusal of those influencers to cooperate has led many to believe that they are deliberately avoiding accountability. Some of them have even gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the Tri Comm probe, a move that Gutierrez dismissed as a clear attempt to avoid facing the investigation.
Adiong further explained that questioning the legality of the House inquiry does not hold ground, as legislative probes in aid of legislation are fully within Congress’ powers.
With mounting concerns over foreign interference in online discourse, lawmakers are now exploring stronger regulations to hold those involved accountable.
Gutierrez argued that while freedom of speech must be protected, it is not absolute, especially when false narratives endanger the country.
As the Tri Comm investigation resumes Tuesday, lawmakers are determined to ensure that foreign-backed disinformation does not undermine Philippine democracy, especially at a time when the country is facing serious national security threats in the WPS.*
