PCG spokesperson unveils levels of ‘fake news campaign’ on West Philippine Sea

Fisherfolk on small bancas join volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition and members of the media as they prepare to depart from Matalbis Port in Masinloc, Zambales, for the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA – Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela identified on Tuesday social media influencers who are part of a campaign in spreading false claims on the country's position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).  

During the House Tri Committee's fourth hearing, Tarriela said they noticed an increase in fake news in relation to the WPS for two years now.   

He said influencers or "initiators" start the conversation that counter the actual narrative.  

READ: House panel urges Meta to take responsibility for false, harmful content

"Ito po ang kilala nating social media influencers na nagbibigay ng maling impormasyon pag dating sa usapin ng West Philippine Sea... At the same time the initiators have a high number of followers... Sila po ang kilala nating known figure sa pagpapakalat ng impormasyon," he said. 

"If we're going to trace the fake news and misinformation and the West Philippine Sea, sila ang unang nagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon na ito," Tarriela added.

He said these posts are always public and not just for their friends.

"Intentionally, their posts are made public so that it can be easily shared ng kanilang disseminators and ng kanilang followers," Tarriela said. 

The PCG spokesperson explained there a four levels behind what he called a coordinated campaign.

After the initiators, there are the "disseminators" who are soulless accounts and have no known network, but can spread or amplify content from the "initiators."  

The next level are the "reposters" or fellow Filipinos, who may support the "initiators" or politicians who agree with the wrong narrative.

Tarriela said the final level is the general public, who is the most affected.

READ: 40 Chinese navy, coast guard ships monitored in West Philippine Sea in March

"The general public is actually the victim of the fake news on social media. Dahil po sa maling impormasyon na ito na ipinapakalat sa West Philippine Sea ay nahahati po ang opinyon ng ating kababayan," he explained. 


Tarriela also listed the six common narratives used by these "initiators" to sow confusion on the WPS issue:

-- We do not have legal basis in our claim in the West Philippine Sea

-- The West Philippine Sea is not our primary concern

-- The Philippines is the one escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea

-- The West Philippine Sea spokespersons are pro-United States and are accepting bribes

-- Fearmongering: There will be war

-- The Philippines is dictated by the US

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela during a joint NTF-WPS press conference at the PCG Office in Manila on March 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

As to the third claim, the PCG and the Bureau of  Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are being blamed for supposedly escalating the tension.

Tarriela said fake news persists despite them releasing reports of incidents with China, complete with photos and videos.  

The PCG spokesperson said the common points of posts from "initiators" are denying the presence of Chinese spies, countering Manila's position on the West Philippine Sea and defending former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.  

Tarriela identified two vloggers, Anna Malindog Uy and Ado Paglinawan, as some influencers who have publicly posted pro-China content.  He said the former insinuated that the PCG is the one who rammed the Chinese Coast Guard vessel.  

Tarriela then cited articles of Paglinawan, calling the West Philippine Sea issue "lunacy" and saying Guo was "disgracefully grilled" by senators.

The PCG spokesperson said they cannot ascertain whether these people are the ones behind the accounts and if they are real individuals.

"Kung patuloy na tataas ang fake news with regard to the West Philippine Sea, mawawalan ng saysay ang paghihirap ng Armed Forces of the Philippines at ng Philippine Coast Guard na tinataya nila buhay nila," Tarriela said. 

"Most likely this is a state-sponsored misinformation tactic para gibain yung tindig ng ating bansa pagdating sa issue ng West Philippine Sea," he added. 

House Assistant Majority Leader Manila Rep. Ernesto "Ernix" Dionisio insisted the vloggers must be stopped and exposed.

Noli De Castro: Social media platforms must be more accountable

"This has to stop. We have to find out who these people are. Baka mga Chinese ito o kung hindi naman mga Pilipino na pinagkakanulo ang bansa natin," he said. 

"This is the reason why we have this hearing to stop and shed light on the fake news na nakaka-apekto na sa sovereignty sa ating bansa... Ang narrative nila all about pro-China eh," the lawmaker added.

Dionisio said no Filipino should not exchange the sovereignty and security of the Philippines for money, while urging vloggers to create content that fights for the country.

"Sana sa mga kaibigan nating vloggers, if you are true Filipinos, let's all work together. I-prove natin na yung mga Pilipino, makabansa tayo. Labanan natin negative news ng China and let's stand for our country," he said. 

The lawmaker requested the mentioned vloggers be invited to the next hearing.