MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino warned that Beijing is supporting pro-China candidates in the upcoming midterm elections to push for the repeal of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law (Republic Act No. 12064).

“If the Maritime Zones Law is repealed in the next Congress dominated by pro-China lawmakers, our basis to assert our rights in the West Philippine and Talampas ng Pilipinas will weaken. Mapipilay tayo,” Tolentino said.

He cautioned that repealing the law would allow China unhampered access to Philippine territories under the guise of freedom of navigation, and could undermine the country’s gains from the 2016 Hague arbitral ruling and the recent enactment of the Maritime Zones Law.

Tolentino cited the Talampas ng Pilipinas, a resource-rich undersea rise along Luzon’s eastern seaboard, as among the areas at risk. He noted that the map for the Talampas was officially deposited with the International Seabed Authority on March 27 in accordance with RA 12064. Chinese drones and research vessels have reportedly been monitored in the area.

Meanwhile, Tolentino also linked Beijing’s political efforts to a service contract between the Chinese Embassy in Manila and public relations firm InfinitUS Marketing Solutions, Inc., which he revealed in a recent Senate hearing.

He said the campaign seeks to project supposedly growing pro-Beijing sentiment among Filipinos by using fake personas on social media to spread disinformation and discredit pro-Filipino candidates.

“This is a campaign that involves the widespread manipulation of the minds that would lead to an eventual control of public perception that what is being propagated is correct and true, in pursuit of Beijing’s interest,” he said.

Tolentino said the surge in online pro-China messaging intensified following the passage of RA 12064 in November 2024, which Beijing strongly opposed.