Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 19)— Sen. JV Ejercito claimed that China might be funding destabilization efforts in the Philippines through “trolls” with “pro-Beijing” stance amid territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
He said he was a victim of coordinated social media attacks from supposed trolls for being vocal against Chinese aggression in the WPS.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ejercito said the social media users previously targeted House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Philippine Coast Guard’s Commodore Jay Tarriela, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and Senate President Migz Zubiri.
\”The sad thing about it is that this might be part of a destabilization plan,\” he told reporters.
When asked if he believes the \”attacks\” against him and his colleagues are funded by China, Ejercito answered: \”Di malayo because of the situation in the West Philippine Sea, so that mapunta ‘yong attention sa internal, sa ginagawa nilang destab efforts.\”
\”It’s not far-fetched that they are funded kasi bigla na lang pro-China sila na napakahirap ilaban ang posisyon na ‘yon,\” he said.
[Translation: It’s not far-fetched because of the situation in the West Philippine Sea, so our attention will be focused on internal, on their destabilization efforts. It’s not far-fetched that they are funded because they (social media users) instantly became pro-China, which is a difficult position to have.]
Asked if in his assessment the social media users were trolling him because they were being paid, he replied: \”Kung normal kang Pilipino, ‘di ka kakamapi sa Tsina dahil binu-bully tayo, kinukuha ang territory natin. That’s why I suspect [they are trolls] kasi kung babasahin mo ‘yong kanilang narrative halos pare-pareho.\”
[Translation: If you’re a normal Filipino, you will not side with China which is bullying us and occupying our territory. That’s why I suspect they are trolls because they mostly have the same narratives.]
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He said those social media users he interacted with have \”flimsy reasoning\” and \”cut and paste narratives.\”
Ejercito appealed to Filipinos to unite to enable the country to \” progress and move forward.\” He also called for a stop to \”political bickering.\”
