Palace alarmed over China 'interfering' with PH midterm polls

Malacañang expressed alarm Friday over the pronouncement of the National Security Council (NSC) that there are indications that China is interfering with the 2025 Philippine midterm elections.

The matter has already reached President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a media briefing.

Castro added that the reported interference would be investigated.

''Ito po ay talagang nakakaalarma at paiigtingin pa po natin ang—sa utos na rin po ng ating administrasyon na imbestigahan nang malalim para malaman po natin kung anuman ang katotohanan patungkol po dito,'' she said.

(This is truly alarming. On the orders of this administration, we will have an in-depth investigation so that we can find out the truth.)

China has denied the NSC's information, saying it has "no interest" to do such acts in relation to the Philippine polls.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in a Thursday press conference that, "China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs.”

At the Senate inquiry on China's submersible drones and alleged espionage activities in the Philippines, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya answered in the affirmative when Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino asked if the alleged Chinese operations were supporting certain candidates.

"There are indications that information operations are being conducted... are Chinese state-sponsored in the Philippines and are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections," Malaya said.

The administration-backed Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas also expressed alarm over the matter, noting that this information was concerning.

Campaign Manager Toby Tiangco said this was not just a political issue, but a matter of national security.

"The right of every Filipino to freely choose their leaders—without manipulation, pressure, or foreign influence—is non-negotiable. Any attempt to interfere in that process is a direct violation of our national integrity and must be condemned in the strongest terms," Tiangco said in a statement.

"We urge the proper authorities to investigate these reports with urgency, hold accountable those responsible, and protect the sanctity of our elections," he added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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