MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino accused the Chinese Embassy in Manila of directly funding troll farms in the Philippines, presenting what he described as a service contract linking Beijing to online influence operations targeting Filipinos.

At the third public hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, Tolentino disclosed a document he said was a formal agreement between the Chinese Embassy and local firm Infinitus Marketing Solutions Inc., detailing the deployment of “keyboard warriors” as part of a broader “issue management project.”

“This would reinforce reports from our security sector regarding the different hacking and spying activities conducted by Chinese nationals,” said Tolentino, calling the agreement a concrete example of China’s alleged information warfare against the Philippines.

The senator also revealed a copy of a check amounting to P930,000, purportedly issued by the Chinese Embassy to Infinitus Marketing as payment for the project.

“Ito mismo ang nagpapatunay na China mismo ang nagbabayad,” Tolentino said. “These troll farms were engaged not only to openly provide information and convey the policies of the Chinese Government but also to act as a covert disinformation and influence operation against the Philippine government and the Filipino people.”

Tolentino condemned the transaction, describing it as an affront to the country’s sovereignty and dignity.

“Hindi po ito simpleng kontrata,” he said. “Ito pong kontrata at kabayaran na ito ay pagyurak sa mga Pilipino—pagyapak sa dignidad ng Pilipinas.”

National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya backed the senator’s claims, saying they are “consistent with how the People’s Republic of China operates,” particularly in its alleged hybrid tactics that include espionage and psychological operations.

The revelations come amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea and follow previous Senate findings on recovered underwater drones and alleged surveillance activities by foreign actors.

Tolentino, an international law expert, has authored key maritime legislation including Republic Act No. 12064 or the Maritime Zones of the Philippines Act, and Republic Act No. 12065 or the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. He warned that the contract is “just the tip of the iceberg” in what he claims is a broader campaign of interference by China.

As of writing, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian has yet to respond to Tolentino’s allegations.