‘Ako lang ‘yun’: Tolentino denies admin ties in Senate probe exposing China influence ops

Senator Francis Tolentino clarified on Wednesday, April 30, that his Senate panel’s investigation exposing China’s influence in the Philippines was carried out independently and was not coordinated with the administration or any political coalition.

The reelectionist senator of the admin-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas was asked regarding one of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ findings shared by Senator Imee Marcos.

She mentioned a diversionary communication plan by the administration following the arrest and transport of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD) to The Hague.

Marcos claimed that “after the arrest of FPRRD, pro-Duterte sentiments rose while the trust rating of the Administration plummeted severely.” According to her, a reliable source informed the Committee that the administration launched a plan to redirect public attention toward the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Chinese disinformation activities.

She alleged that the strategy involves using a Senate hearing to revive West Philippine Sea issues, followed by revelations of Chinese interference, and ultimately “linking the rising pro-Duterte sentiment with this alleged disinformation campaign.”

Speaking during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Tolentino stated that what he did during the Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones hearing has nothing to do with the administration.

In the hearing, Tolentino revealed documents alleging that the People’s Republic of China has been financing troll farms operating in the Philippines through its embassy in Manila.

In the same hearing, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said that there are indications of alleged Chinese state-sponsored information operations in the Philippines, aimed at interfering with the country’s upcoming May 2025 midterm elections.

“Ako lang po yun, hindi ito Alyansa, si Tol lang ‘yon, si Tol lang yung kumilos last week, hindi nga nila alam na may hearing ako (It was just me. This wasn’t Alyansa — it was only Tol. I was the only one who took action last week; they didn’t even know I had a hearing),” Tolentino said.

“Ako lang po ‘yun. You ask National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), you ask [the] Philippine National Police (PNP), sa kanila ba galing ‘yung mga cheke? Sa akin po yon, wala pong kinalaman ‘yung Alyansa (It was just me. You can ask the NBI, you can ask the PNP — did the checks come from them? They came from me. Alyansa had nothing to do with it),” he added.

Tolentino said his efforts began as early as 2022 and 2023, citing past initiatives such as exposing photos of Sandy Cay, engaging with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and attending a burial in Zambales.

“Ganun katagal na po ito (This has been going on for a long time),” he said.

In his opening statement during the public forum, Tolentino also said that the series of incidents that have occurred are linked to a larger Chinese operation. This includes the discovery of submersible drones, arrests of alleged Chinese spies in Subic, San Antonio Village in Makati, and Palawan, as well as the presence of a troll farm in Makati “paid and organized by the Chinese Embassy.”

He also referenced an arrest made at the Comelec premises in Intramuros, asserting that all these events are “part of one stream…designed to foster China’s interests in the Philippines and in the Indo-Pacific Region.”