A Senate probe headed by Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has supposedly uncovered China-sponsored troll farms that were created to manipulate public opinion and sentiment in social media, according to a National Security Council (NSC) official.

Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the NSC, said, “There are indications that information operations being done in the Philippines are Chinese state-sponsored and are interfering in the forthcoming elections.”

The inquiry focused on Infinitus Marketing Solutions Inc., a company founded in 2018 by Paul Li and Myka Basco. Documents presented by Tolentino, including a 2023 contract excerpt that read “provider’s dedicated keyboard warriors play a vital role in the overall effectiveness of the issue management project” and a P930,000 check allegedly linked to the Chinese Embassy, suggested the firm managed 330 social media accounts with over 53,000 followers. These accounts were reportedly used to post content that could sway public opinion, though specifics remain under investigation.

Tolentino described the allegations as a matter of national concern, hinting that the Securities and Exchange Commission could revoke Infinitus’s registration if violations are confirmed. However, he acknowledged constraints, citing diplomatic immunity that prevents summoning embassy officials.

“Let us see their reaction of the embassy here. There will be a reaction. If it’s not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, it will be the Infinitus,” Tolentino said.

There has been evidence of foreign actors trying to influence the midterm elections, as the Commission on Elections is reporting that there have been attempts to hack the goverment’s Precinct Finder website which helps voters find the correct locations for them to cast their vote. So far these attempts have been unsuccessful.

“As of yesterday, there’s a few thousand that want to hack the system,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia disclosed. The poll chief has likewise assured the public that there will be no cheating in the elections.

“From the intelligence community, intelligence agencies of the government have monitored possible foreign intervention especially on the elections. It has been about a month since it started,” Garcia added.