MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday alleged that the Chinese Embassy in Manila entered into a contract with a local marketing firm in 2023 to operate a troll farm and deploy so-called “keyboard warriors” in a covert online influence campaign.
The revelation emerged during a Senate inquiry into Chinese espionage and the reported use of submersible drones in Philippine waters.
Tolentino presented a service agreement, dated August 2023, between the Chinese Embassy—represented by Wu Chenqi—and InfinitUs Marketing Solutions Inc., represented by Myka Poynton.
According to the senator, the agreement tasked InfinitUs with supplying “keyboard warriors”—allegedly Filipino nationals—to spread content that promotes Chinese government interests on Philippine social media platforms.
Evidence of Payment and Disinformation Tactics
As part of the evidence, Tolentino also presented a Bank of China–Manila Branch check dated September 11, 2023, which showed a payment of ₱930,000 to InfinitUs.
He described the campaign as not a conventional public relations effort, but a sophisticated disinformation operation aimed at influencing public discourse and undermining Philippine sovereignty.
The senator cited a report allegedly prepared by InfinitUs, which claimed the firm had:
Created hundreds of fake social media accounts
Used fabricated personas such as students, business professionals, and even military personnel
Engaged with over 50,000 real Filipino users, whom Tolentino said were “entangled in a web of deceit”
Concern Over National Impact and Targeted Officials
Tolentino expressed alarm at the scope of the operation, saying it has targeted high-profile individuals including:
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Senators
Judicial officials
“This is an attack on the dignity of the Filipino people,” Tolentino said, warning that such influence operations could erode public trust and manipulate democratic institutions.
He emphasized, however, that Filipinos involved in the operation should not be blamed, as they were likely acting on instructions provided under the contract.
