Pro-China vloggers spreading misinfo — PCG
PHILIPPINE Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela has warned that pro-China vloggers are actively spreading disinformation to distort the realities of the West Philippine Sea and mislead the Filipino people.
Speaking at the House Tri Comm, Tarriela stressed the need to hold online influencers accountable for misleading content that weakens national unity and benefits foreign interests.
“I was genuinely pleased to learn about the House of Representatives’ decision to hold a public hearing addressing fake news, disinformation, and misinformation on social media. I believe this presents an opportunity for us to finally establish legislation that holds trolls, influencers, and bloggers accountable for their online content,” Tarriela said.
Tarriela identified disinformation as one of the biggest threats to the Philippine government’s efforts in the West Philippine Sea, second only to China’s direct aggression.
“It is important to note that one of the greatest challenges facing the Philippine government in the West Philippine Sea, aside from China’s bullying, unlawful activities, and aggressive actions, is combating the spread of fake news and disinformation that obscures the true narrative of events in the West Philippine Sea, leading to confusion and division among our people,” he said.
He explained that a false sense of security was created during the previous administration, when the public was led to believe that the situation in the West Philippine Sea was under control and that China had eased its aggressive actions.
“The limited reporting of these incidents, combined with the narrative that the former president’s diplomatic efforts had successfully convinced Xi Jinping to allow our fishermen to operate freely, contributed to the false sense of security among the Filipino people regarding the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
Tarriela said for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fulfill his commitment of defending Philippine sovereignty, it is crucial to unite the nation by ensuring people understand the real situation in the West Philippine Sea.
Tarriela pointed out that pro-China vloggers are actively working to distort the truth and weaken the country’s position in the West Philippine Sea.
He said the tactics seek to divide the public, create doubt, and weaken national resolve in defending the country’s maritime rights.
Beyond spreading false narratives, pro-China vloggers also engage in personal attacks against individuals who challenge China’s aggression.
“When we launched our transparency initiative aimed at exposing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, I was relatively unknown, having just returned from Tokyo after completing my PhD. However, as we gained traction in the weeks following our launch, I became a target for these trolls who sought to tarnish my reputation as the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said. “While these lies are absurd, they are not only frustrating but also deeply unfair to my family.”
Despite the spread of pro-China disinformation, Tarriela said public awareness has significantly improved, with surveys showing overwhelming support for the government’s efforts to defend the West Philippine Sea.
