AFP Warns of Foreign Interference in Cybersecurity Disinformation Campaigns

Philippine Military Warns of Foreign Influence in Online Disinformation Campaigns

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has raised concerns that recent waves of disinformation circulating online may be orchestrated by foreign entities, as government agencies step up their monitoring efforts amid heightened political tensions in the country.

Speaking to reporters during a Stratbase cybersecurity forum in Makati City on Thursday, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla suggested that both domestic and international actors could be behind the spread of false information.

“Is there a foreign influence in this? That could be a possibility. It could be a foreign entity inside the country, or foreign state actors. There are different vectors of attack when we conduct cyber investigations,” Padilla explained.

The military spokesperson emphasized that addressing cyber threats requires a collaborative approach. The AFP works closely with various government bodies, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) through its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Coordination Center, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police.

According to Padilla, malicious information has become increasingly prevalent in recent months, reflecting the growing challenges posed by widespread social media usage across the Philippines, which is known for having one of the highest rates of social media engagement in Southeast Asia.

In her remarks, Padilla detailed how cyber investigations carefully examine the intent behind content, distinguishing between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. “You may have no intent to spread false information, but you share it knowingly that it is wrong. The same is true with the other two… This is what we monitor in terms of cyber operations,” she noted.

National Security Council cybersecurity chief MGen. Cornelio Valencia Jr. (Ret.) offered reassurance that while destabilization rumors persist, they appear to be politically motivated rather than posing genuine national security threats.

“We know that it is more of a political interest. We have seen things are improving… The escalation they were expecting wasn’t there. The rallies have been peaceful,” Valencia said. He acknowledged that attributing cyber threats to specific actors—whether criminal groups or state-sponsored entities—remains challenging.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda detailed his agency’s approach to tackling fake news and deepfakes while maintaining respect for freedom of expression. Rather than directly removing content, the DICT coordinates with social media platforms when violations of community standards are identified.

“If it’s patent, deepfake, or fake news, we coordinate with the platform. We don’t take it down ourselves… We say to the platform that it’s a violation of your community standards,” Aguda explained during an impromptu interview at the forum.

The DICT has been particularly vigilant around major public events, monitoring social media traffic for potentially harmful content. “Leading to the weekend rallies, we monitored a lot of discussions, conversations… Nothing unusual in the context of our current environment,” Aguda added.

Beyond immediate concerns about disinformation, Aguda highlighted broader challenges to the Philippines’ digital resilience, noting the country’s declining digital economy performance and vulnerability to cyber threats. “Digital disruption is not a theory. It is a survival issue, hand in hand with cybersecurity,” he emphasized during a panel discussion.

Stratbase Institute President Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit underscored the evolving nature of cybersecurity threats, which increasingly blur traditional national security boundaries. “Cybersecurity is national security… Protecting our digital domain is a shared responsibility among the State, the private sector, and the international community,” Manhit stated.

As political tensions continue to simmer in the Philippines, Padilla reaffirmed the AFP’s commitment to promptly addressing any threats requiring military intervention. “If there is anything that entails for us to act upon, we will act on it. It’s like a doctor: you treat the symptom but also look for the cause,” she concluded.