InfinitUs: P930K check from Chinese Embassy was for an event

InfinitUs Marketing Solutions, the firm that was allegedly contracted by the Chinese Embassy to hire trolls, said Monday that the P930,000 check they received from the embassy was for an event in 2023.

During the hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, Senator Francis Tolentino questioned InfinitUs CEO Paul Li about a check issued by the Chinese Embassy to InfinitUs.

Li said the check was for the Awards for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) on June 8, 2023.

“This check actually is for a balance for the event of June 8, 2023. We held the event in Manila Hotel for the APPCU event. Actually, President Marcos and some other companies joined this event,” Li said.

Tolentino asked Li if he could provide the invoice of the payment.

Due to this, Li presented a letter dated September 2023 where he supposedly asked the Chinese Embassy to pay InfinitUs additional expenses that it incurred.

The senator, however, noted that InfinitUs purchased COVID-19 antigen kits, face masks, and face shields. He said the committee will not accept the document, claiming that there was no more COVID-19 at that time.

For his part, Li said that the tests were requested by the Office of the President.

InfinitUs previously denied entering into a contract with the Chinese Embassy.

“I categorically deny the allegation that InfinitUs has engaged in any unlawful activity including the spread of disinformation to influence this coming elections. The contract shown is not known to us, was never authorized by us,” Li reiterated.

Show cause

Meanwhile, Tolentino asked a managing director of the Bank of China to show cause why they should not be cited in contempt after he refused to answer questions regarding the check.

The managing director cited bank secrecy laws.

“We are guided by the BSP legal primer on the secrecy of bank deposits which prohibits the bank from even confirming the existence of a bank account,” he said.

Tolentino, however, said a check is not a bank deposit and is thus not covered by bank secrecy laws. He also noted that Li himself had already admitted that the check is real.

“I will not argue with you any longer. I’ll just ask you, through your lawyer, to produce a paper showing, justifying why you cannot be cited for contempt by this committee,” Tolentino said. 

Treason charge?

Tolentino added that the firm could be charged with treason.

“Kasi [Because] collaborating with a foreign government to put down our system, and it's ongoing, even though in the digital space. It undermines the sovereignty of our country, of our institutions, as well as society itself. It is the highest form of betrayal to one's flag,” he told the media.

He said his recommendation to file charges of treason against InfinitUS will likely be included in the committee report. — with a report by Mariel Celine Serquiña/RSJ/BM, GMA Integrated News