AFP warns of China influencing education, business, LGUs, media

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has warned of China's "united front works" aimed at influencing Philippine sectors such as those in education, business, local governments, and the media.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras," AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the aim was to degrade the value system and divide the Filipinos.

“One way of fighting really without firing a single shot is to infiltrate into the various sectors of society, degrade... the value system," Brawner said.

"Parang tayo-tayo ang mag aaway-away…kaya't dapat bantayan natin ito,” he added.

(This is for us to turn against each other… So we should be wary.) 

Brawner did not name any groups or individuals who could be behind the said efforts.

GMA Integrated News has sought comment from the Chinese embassy regarding China's united front works and "third-party amplifiers."

The AFP has previously pointed out that fake news has been proliferating lately to sow fear among the public. 

The National Security Council confirmed that some individuals or groups are participating in the spread of China’s narrative and influence. 

“Wala pa tayong mga specific na batas on foreign malign influence,” said NSC assistant director general Jonathan Malaya. 

(We still don’t have a specific law on foreign malign influence.) 

“Ang mahirap kasi sa mga tulad nating bansa na demokrasya, there’s a very thin line between freedom of speech and opinion and calling them treasonous. But we want to expose them for what they are para yung tao na yung maghusga,” he added. 

(In a democratic country like ours, there’s a very thin line between freedom of speech and opinion and calling them treasonous. But we want to expose them for what they are so the people can judge.) 

The NSC lauded the strong public and government support for the West Philippine Sea dispute. 

Further, the agency said that it is easy to spot false information from China. 

“Pag nakita mo na pina-parrot essentially yung misinformation, yung fake news, yung malinformation coming from Beijing, then you can be 99% assured that is united fronts work,” said Malaya. 

(If you saw that it is just parroting the misinformation, the fake news, yung malinformation coming from Beijing, then you can be 99% assured that is united fronts work.) 

“Nakita mo na ni-ram yung Philippine vessel ng Chinese Coast Guard and yet ang sasabihin ng vlogger na to o social media influencer is tayo yung nag-ram.” 

(For example, there are vloggers or social media influencers who would say that the Philippines rammed into the China Coast Guard even though that’s not what happened.)

According to the report, Filipino troops might soon wear a patch of the Philippine flag to symbolize patriotism, unity, and fight for sovereignty. —Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News