MANILA — Canada will continue helping the Philippines strengthen its cybersecurity and defend against foreign information manipulation as the 2028 presidential elections approach.

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman said Ottawa, under its Indo-Pacific Strategy, is committed to assisting Manila in achieving “democratic resiliency.”

“We’re living in unprecedented times in terms of the threats to our respective democracies. So, now is the time when like-minded friends need to rise to the occasion and provide a measure of support to one another and for one another,” Hartman said on Thursday during a Canada Embassy-sponsored forum on combatting foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

Ottawa currently provides support through training for cyber defenders, technical workshops, and discussions on countering FIMI.

“Cybersecurity and information integrity are no longer technical issues — they are national, regional, and democratic imperatives. Canada’s commitment to this agenda is long-standing and continues to grow,” Hartman added.

At the forum, Dindo Manhit of Stratbase ADR Institute highlighted the risks of FIMI, describing it as a “well-orchestrated system” exploiting political vulnerabilities and influencing public perception to serve foreign strategic interests.

“Technology should be — and will be — for the public good. We should never allow foreign agents to bring down our defenses and sway what our people feel, think and believe, which in turn influences their democratic decisions,” Manhit said.

He stressed the need for early measures to secure both the country’s information environment and cyber domain ahead of the 2028 elections. “And how we are shaped, shapes the future of our country. What’s the remedy? It’s for us to understand that this is a [cyber] war that is ongoing,” he said.

Manhit noted that social media already shapes the perspectives of at least 76 percent of Filipinos as of May 2026, up from 3 percent in 2016.

(PNA)