Metro Manila, Philippines – A company in the hot seat over alleged Chinese embassy troll operations reasoned out that its services were for a legitimate event nearly two years ago, but a lawmaker said this was a lie.
Sen. Francis Tolentino said Paul Li, CEO of InfinitUs Marketing Solutions, Inc., was “caught lying” as he faced the Senate hearing on Monday, May 5, to respond to allegations that the Chinese embassy hired his company for troll operations against officials perceived as anti-China.
The senator is special committee on Philippine maritime and admiralty zones chairperson.
He grilled Li about the company’s services for the Chinese embassy and was paid with a check of P930,000 dated Sept. 11, 2023.
“This check [was] actually for the balance of the event on June 8 in 2023,” Li said.
He said InfinitUs hosted the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding that was attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other Cabinet officials.
The event was a joint undertaking of the Association for Philippines-China Understanding and the Chinese embassy on June 8, 2023, according to a video posted by RTVM, the president’s media arm.
“We are the PR (public relations) company for the Chinese embassy,” Li said.
Asked for an invoice, Li presented to the committee a “budget proposal” dated Sept. 5, 2023, Tolentino said.
“This is the balance budget, which means we paid additional funds to the event, then in September requested the Chinese embassy to pay us back,” the businessman told the senator.
Tolentino was not convinced, especially with the procurement of COVID-19 antigen kits and related paraphernalia. Li said these were requested by the Office of the President for the event.
“Lying, caught lying,” he said in a news conference after the hearing.
When asked why he did not cite the businessman in contempt for lying, Tolentino answered: “Pinasok kaagad niya ‘yong may cancer ‘yong [He immediately talked about his wife’s cancer]… There will be a time for that. Other investigative agencies are doing their work right now, as we speak.”
In an April 24 hearing, Tolentino presented documents allegedly indicating that the Chinese embassy hired InfinitUs to operate “keyboard warriors,” including a social media plan aimed at promoting China’s messaging and attacking officials critical of Beijing.
