PNA
MANILA – Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Friday called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file treason and other criminal charges against the officers and board members of Makati-based Infinitus Marketing Solutions, a company reportedly contracted by China to run online troll farms.
Gutierrez made the call following a Senate hearing that revealed that Infinitus was engaged by China to promote its narrative on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute through “keyboard warriors.”
“The DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation should file charges for treason and other violations of the Revised Penal Code and the National Security Act against officers and directors of Infinitus Marketing Solutions,” Rodriguez said.
He stressed that the laws punish any Filipino who betrays or acts disloyal to the country, particularly those undermining national interest, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Rodriguez added that Chinese embassy officials who brokered the deal should also be charged as “principals by direct participation” and face immediate sanctions from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
During Thursday’s hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones into reported espionage activities, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino presented documents linking the Chinese Embassy in Manila to a covert online disinformation campaign in the country, by allegedly tapping a local marketing firm.
Tolentino revealed that China has been funding troll farms to discredit the administration and influence public perception.
“China’s government through its embassy is paying Filipino troll farms to oppose and smear the administration,” he said, warning of Beijing’s increasing involvement in what he called “Malign, Influence, Foreign Interference” efforts, including hacking vital government agencies.
He said China’s aim is not just to sway discussions but to launch direct attacks on the government and advance its agenda of dominating the Philippines.
Rodriguez, a consistent critic of China’s aggressive actions in the WPS, urged Tolentino to summon Infinitus officers and members of its board of directors to explain the details of their engagement with China.
“I am interested in knowing the social media personalities they have engaged and paid to work against our national interest and promote China’s false narratives on the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
Meanwhile, House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre suggested enlisting the diplomatic corps’ help to prevent Chinese interference in the May 12 elections.
“Perhaps we may need the help of diplomatic channels in this case after the Senate uncovered the involvement of Beijing in trying to interfere with our own elections, in the hopes of getting a favorable policy in our sovereign country,” Acidre said in a separate statement Friday.
“I don’t think we can ever countenance such practice of hiring our own local companies and our own people to do damage against our very own interests. If China can do this to us, I think it would be an understatement that they can also do this to others,” he warned.
Acidre urged Filipinos not to be swayed by candidates of “Team China” and vote for “Team Pilipinas.”
“Simply put, patriots will be pitted against traitors to our national flag come election day. So, we’re calling on our electorate — the 67 million or so Filipino voters — to please vote only for those candidates who will not sell our national patrimony to any colonial power,” he said. (PNA)
