Senatorial candidates of Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas on Friday warned of growing foreign efforts to influence the 2025 midterm elections, saying China’s interference is now “too obvious” to ignore, and urged voters to choose only leaders who are firmly aligned with the Filipino people.
“Masyado namang obvious na, na talaga namang nakikialam ang China. Hindi ba pati sa election, based on the reports of the National Security Council and NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency)? Mahirap na itong itanggi,” former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III told a press conference with fellow Alyansa senatorial bets.
Sotto said that if elected, he will oppose any attempt to revive policies that may serve foreign interests.
“Ako, sisiguraduhin kong hindi ma-repeal ’yang Philippine Maritime Zones Act. Kursunada ’yun ng mga pro-China senators. Hinding-hindi ko papayagang ma-repeal ’yun,” he said.
Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the country’s anti-espionage law, Commonwealth Act No. 616 of 1941, is outdated and no longer responsive to modern threats.
“You just can imagine, it’s about time i-amend natin o i-repeal natin ang napakalumang legislation to be attuned sa time,” Lacson said.
“Noong araw wala pa namang social media, wala pa itong modern information technology,” he pointed out.
Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos warned that election interference happens not only through spying, but also through information warfare and questionable funding.
“Ang Pilipinas ay para sa Pilipino. Walang sinumang dayuhan ang pwedeng makialam sa eleksyon dito,” Abalos said.
He added: “Gusto nilang maimpluwensyahan at kontrolin ang ating bansa. Walang sinumang Pilipino ang dapat pumayag dito.”
Abalos said the Commission on Elections and the Department of Information and Communications Technology must act quickly, noting that troll accounts and artificially amplified content can mislead the public into thinking certain views represent the majority.
“It’s a form of mind conditioning. That’s how you control an election,” Abalos warned. “Pangalawa, pagbibigay ng pondo. Dapat ma-trace ang pondong ito dahil iba-iba siya sa foreign government. Saan galing ito?”
Abalos was also firm in defining the stand of Alyansa, the Senate slate backed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Isa lang ang masasabi ko: ang nakaharap sa inyo ngayon, ang Alyansa is pro-Philippines,” he stressed.
ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo warned voters against electing candidates who remain silent on Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea or foreign influence operations.
“May 12 po, nasa kamay po natin ang pagpapasya kung anong klaseng Senado ang gusto po natin—anong Congress, anong Mayor, anong Governor, Vice Mayor, Board Member,” Tulfo said.
“Unang-una po ’yong Senado. Ito ba, pro-China ba ito? Do you want a Chinese-controlled Senate? ’Yun po ’yung sinasabi natin. Ito, hindi umiimik basta China ang pinag-uusapan. Wala ka nang maririnig,” he said.
Tulfo said all 11 candidates of Alyansa are firmly opposed to Chinese interference, unlike others who have remained silent.
He urged voters to scrutinize not just senatorial candidates but also congressional bets, asking whether they have ever spoken out against China or shown signs of siding with it.
“Nasa kamay po natin kung gusto natin na pumasok na ang China o maging probinsya na po ng China. Nasa sa ating mga kamay. ’Yun lamang po,” Tulfo said.
