Is PH a new battleground for info warfare?
Information warfare has taken a foothold in social media platforms, messaging apps, and online communities where it becomes major channels where narratives compete for attention and credibility. One recurring example involves the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which invalidated many of China’s claims in the South China Sea. While the decision was widely seen as a legal victory for the Philippines, online disinformation campaigns have repeatedly portrayed the ruling as illegitimate, meaningless, or harmful to national interests.
Some of these accounts may be part of coordinated networks designed to amplify specific narratives. Flooding online spaces with emotionally charged content and conflicting claims, such can blur the line between fact and fiction. Identical videos, infographics, and talking points may suddenly appear across multiple accounts at the same time, creating an impression that many share the same views, weakening public trust in institutions and making it harder for citizens to distinguish credible information from manipulation.
The impact of these campaigns goes beyond discourse. Strategic messaging may attempt to reframe maritime disputes, cast doubt on legal rulings, or portray Philippine defensive actions as provocative. Cyber intrusions and data leaks have targeted institutions such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard. These activities can reinforce the perception that government institutions are vulnerable or ineffective. Repeated exposure to such narratives can erode public confidence over time.
Why the Philippines is vulnerable. The Philippines’ unique sociocultural diversity can make the information environment particularly complex. The country’s deeply rooted community networks mean that information often travels through trusted personal channels: family members, religious groups, local leaders, and online communities. Integral to Philippine society, they can make it easier for misleading narratives to spread quickly within tightly connected groups.
Influence campaigns may exploit existing political divisions or economic concerns. In some cases, sovereignty disputes may be framed as elitist business, potentially weakening public support for national security policies. Influence may emerge indirectly through economic relationships, information exchanges, and social interactions that shape understanding on national interests and foreign policy.
Business groups, cultural organizations, and civic associations often play valuable roles in strengthening economic ties to promote common interest between countries. Many Filipino Chinese organizations, for instance, have long contributed to trade, education, and philanthropy in the Philippines. However, it can intersect with broader political and strategic messaging requiring careful analysis rather than suspicion or oversimplification.
Influence does not always come in material form. Beyond information campaigns, cybersecurity experts have also warned about digital vulnerabilities. Some China-linked cyber groups have reportedly conducted reconnaissance activities within government information systems and critical infrastructure networks. These activities may allow malicious actors to exploit sensitive systems during periods of political tension. These create opportunities for coercion without traditional military escalation.
Building resilience–moving forward to the future. Addressing these challenges will require strengthening both institutional and societal resilience. Improving media literacy and helping citizens verify sources can reduce the impact of online disinformation campaigns.
Supporting fact-checking and independent journalism initiatives can ensure that accurate information reaches the public quickly. Government agencies must strengthen clear, transparent messaging about national interests and security issues can reduce the space in which misleading narratives.
A new kind of security challenge. Ultimately, safeguarding Philippine sovereignty demands resilience in the information and cognitive domains, where public perception, political legitimacy, and national decision-making are increasingly shaped. The Philippines must recognize that the struggle over national security is no longer fought in traditional domains. It is also unfolding in digital spaces where Filipinos form opinions, debate national issues, and decide the country’s future.
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Recce Cubero, Patrick Chris Rodriguez Joson, and Amadeus Quiaoit are resident fellows of the International Development and Security Cooperation. Cubero and Joson are also Ph.D. candidates in environmental diplomacy and negotiations at the University of the Philippines Los Baños; Quiaoit is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
