A new battleground has emerged in the fight for the West Philippine Sea — not in the open waters, but on social media.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is sounding the alarm over a growing wave of pro-China disinformation, warning that false narratives are not only misleading the Filipino public but also undermining national unity in the face of foreign aggression.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, delivered this warning on February 18 during the third hearing of the House Tri-Committee on the prevalence of disinformation. He called for holding online influencers accountable for content that distorts facts and benefits foreign interests.
“I was genuinely pleased to learn about the House of Representatives’ decision to hold a public hearing addressing fake news, disinformation, and misinformation on social media,” Tarriela said. “I believe this presents an opportunity for us to finally establish legislation that holds trolls, influencers, and bloggers accountable for their online content.”
Disinformation: A threat to sovereignty
Tarriela described disinformation as one of the biggest threats to Philippine sovereignty, second only to China’s direct aggression in the disputed waters.
“It is important to note that one of the greatest challenges facing the Philippine government in the West Philippine Sea, aside from China’s bullying, unlawful activities, and aggressive actions, is combating the spread of fake news and disinformation,” he said. “This obscures the true narrative of events, leading to confusion and division among our people.”
“The limited reporting of these incidents, combined with the narrative that the former president’s diplomatic efforts had successfully convinced Xi Jinping to allow our fishermen to operate freely, contributed to the false sense of security among the Filipino people regarding the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said, referring to the Duterte administration.
He added that Filipinos were misled into believing that tensions in the disputed waters had eased.
Five tactics used in disinformation
Tarriela outlined five key tactics used by pro-China vloggers to distort public perception of the WPS:
• Undermining the 2016 arbitral ruling and falsely asserting that China’s 10-dash line has historical legitimacy.
• Twisting maritime incident narratives by claiming the Philippines provoked confrontations at sea, including vessel collisions.
• Accusing the Philippines of being a U.S. puppet.
• Claiming the Philippines is powerless against China and that asserting its rights will only lead to war.
• Falsely suggesting that tensions only escalated under the Marcos government while ignoring years of Chinese expansionism.
According to Tarriela, these tactics seek to divide the public, create doubt, and weaken national resolve in defending country’s maritime rights.
Personal attacks
Tarriela said pro-China vloggers also engage in targeted attacks against individuals who challenge China’s actions.
“When we launched our transparency initiative aimed at exposing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, I was relatively unknown, having just returned from Tokyo after completing my PhD,” Tarriela said.
“However, as we gained traction, I became a target for these trolls who sought to tarnish my reputation as the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.”
He recounted false claims used to discredit him, including allegations about his past dismissal as a Philippine Military Academy cadet, accusations of being a pro-U.S. operative, and rumors that he received a US$4 million payout or visited Speaker Martin Romualdez’s residence to collect black bags.
“While these lies are absurd, they are not only frustrating but also deeply unfair to my family,” the PCG spokesperson said.
Marcoleta-Tarriela clash over “traitor” tag
The hearing took a dramatic turn when SAGIP Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who has faced criticism for questioning the legitimacy of the WPS, confronted Tarriela over social media claims labeling him a “traitor” and pro-China.
“Why didn’t you explain? You should have said that ‘Marcoleta is a traitor’ did not come from you,” Marcoleta said in Filipino. “No matter how many times you explain here, the person has already heard that you said it.”
Marcoleta, who is running for a Senate seat, insisted that Tarriela’s supposed inaction allowed the accusations to spread unchecked and could harm his election bid.
Tarriela, however, rejected Marcoleta’s demand. “Why would I even defend you if you’re calling me ‘gago’ (a fool)?” he shot back. “I think I’m not under obligation to tell all the social media influencers or vloggers to defend your name and tell them you’re not a traitor. Again, I did not say you are a traitor. Those words did not come from me.”
“Why would I go to the extent of defending you (if) you are running for Senate? I might as well be interpreted as supporting somebody for public office,” he added.
Marcoleta countered that Tarriela could have easily ended the issue. “Clarifying something that is wrong is not political,” he said. “I think it is his responsibility to deny it if it did not come from him.”
The lawmaker has been criticized for previously stating that “there is no such thing as the West Philippine Sea” and that the area lacks international recognition. He claimed his remarks were taken out of context, explaining that the WPS is not yet registered with the International Hydrographic Organization, making it difficult for foreign nations to locate on official maps.
“Since it’s not yet registered, countries in Europe would need to search this on YouTube first before they can see the West Philippine Sea’s location. Anyone who Googles that particular area can only read the South China Sea (SCS) label,” he explained.
“But it doesn’t mean that the South China Sea is solely owned by China — in the same manner that the Indian Ocean is not solely owned by India,” he added.
Tarriela strongly rejected Marcoleta’s position. “No sir. I will not agree that you are correct. The West Philippine Sea is in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” he said.
Public awareness
Despite ongoing disinformation campaigns, Tarriela noted that public awareness of the WPS issue has significantly improved. He cited a recent OCTA Research survey showing that 84 percent of Filipinos support the government’s efforts to assert maritime rights.
Furthermore, seven out of 10 Filipinos said they were unlikely to vote for pro-China candidates in the 2025 midterm elections, suggesting that efforts to expose disinformation have been effective.
However, Tarriela warned that pro-China vloggers would likely intensify their efforts to manipulate narratives as the elections draw near. He stressed the need for stronger regulations on online content to prevent foreign-influenced propaganda from shaping public opinion.
“I am committed to my role in exposing Chinese aggression and raising awareness among the Filipino people so that we can unite as one nation with a renewed sense of patriotism,” he said.
The hearing, meant to address the dangers of disinformation, ultimately highlighted the broader struggle between truth and propaganda in the fight for the West Philippine Sea.
Photo credit: House of Representatives. Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, during the third hearing of the House tri-committee on the prevalence of disinformation in social media platforms on February 18, 2025 in Manila.
