Lowlife 6th columnists

Defense officials said they are not surprised by China’s false narratives and efforts to use Filipino trolls.

Among the aspects that security officials should look into regarding the destabilization yarn is the probable involvement of foreign groups and the possibility that the source of the canard is mixed up with Chinese interests.

The effort to spread division in the society came at a time when China was beating a retreat from its bullying of fishermen and smaller Philippine boats in the wake of global condemnation and the stepped-up American presence in the disputed seas.

Arousing suspicion of Beijing’s involvement is that the myth was being spread through social media, where China has been tagged as being engaged in financing disinformation to divide the nation.

The target was naturally the leadership who would be pitted with the previous administration, where it had a better relationship.

Creating an internal disturbance will, on the calculation of those whipping it up, force Philippine leaders to focus on domestic affairs until a period when politicians would again be preoccupied with the national elections that come every three years, the next in 2025.

Of all sources of so-called unrest in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, such would have come from the post of an alleged retired military officer.

According to the information being spread, the AFP and the PNP “were withdrawing support and or asking for the resignation of the president.”

A manipulated video then showed AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. and Benjamin Acorda Jr., making it appear that both support the plot.

Acorda’s office said a criminal complaint was filed against blogger Johnny Macanas Sr. — a retired military brigadier general — for spreading the online video.

Senator JV Ejercito had warned about what he said was a pattern of social media attacks, which he connected to the conflict in the West Philippine Sea, or WPS.

According to the senator, intelligence reports were saying China has “tapped” those with substantial online following as agents.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila issued a denial, saying Beijing adheres to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, which it does not practice in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in the WPS.

Security officials expected an online campaign to spread intrigue within the government since it is one of the tools in the so-called “gray zone tactics” in which China uses means to push its agenda without resorting to an armed conflict.

An armed conflict may activate the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States.

Defense officials said they are not surprised by China’s false narratives and efforts to use Filipino trolls.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said disinformation and information operations are in the playbook of China “naturally and so, we are countering the narratives of information operation, such as this, such as me explaining to our countrymen why they should not believe in China’s narrative.”

Earlier, China tried the narrative that the Philippines had acted as a willing proxy of the United States, which flew in its face since Filipinos consider the United States an enduring ally.

Beijing then accused Washington of using Manila to expand its interest in the South China Sea and the Asia-Pacific region, which was also debunked due to the MDT that mandates mutual security arrangements for both nations.

“What China is saying, the favorite Chinese narratives, is that this is all a play of the United States and that we are just marionettes or puppets of the Americans who follow their playbook,” Teodoro said.

Instead of getting Filipinos to their side, suspicions increased as many felt insulted that Beijing believed they could not think independently.

Filipino opinion makers and bloggers who allow themselves to be paid hacks of a foreign interest are an utter disgrace since they are misleading their followers in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.

Let the traitors read the writing on the wall in the bible where Judas hung himself in shame for his deed.

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Credit belongs to: tribune.net.ph