China Behind Some Pollsters, Vloggers and Trolls?

By Herbert Vego

THERE appears to be collusion among the government of China, survey firms and online trolls to influence the result of the forthcoming senatorial election.

That is how I read the statements made by re-electionist Senator Francis Tolentino, National Security Council (NSC) director-general Jonathan Malaya and Malacañang’s press officer, Undersecretary Claire Castro.

For a recap, it was Tolentino who denounced the Chinese Embassy for funding “keyboard warriors” (online trolls) through a service contract with Infinitus Marketing Solutions Inc. He showed a machine copy of a P930,000 check issued by the embassy to Infinitus on September 11, 2023 yet.

In the same Senate hearing, Malaya supported Tolentino’s revelations and warned that China could be interfering in the midterm senatorial derby on May 12, 2025.

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

In a briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps, Undersecretary Castro substantiated Malaya’s opinion with her own. She questioned a Pulse Asia survey showing that President Marcos’ approval and trust ratings had fallen by 17 percent from 42 percent in February to 25 percent lately.

Castro wondered, referring to the supposedly 2,400 survey respondents, “Who are they?  Where are they?”

To quote her exact words, “Ang respondents po dito ay 2,400. So, hindi po ito nag-re-reflect ng sentimyento ng kabuuang more than 100,000 million people or Filipinos in the country.”

Oo nga naman, why equate the pulses of a few respondents to those of the entire Philippine population, or specifically of the 68.6 million registered Filipino voters?

In past columns, this writer has asked similar questions vis-à-vis senatorial surveys released by eight commercial pollsters accredited by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). The most recent one allegedly done by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) from April 11 to 15 this year listed the following frontrunners within the “magic 12”: Senator Bong Go, Rep. Erwin Tulfo, Sen. Lito Lapid, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. President Tito Sotto, Sen. Bato dela Rosa, Sen. Bong Revilla, Ben Tulfo, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, former senator Panfilo Lacson, and former senator Manny Pacquiao.

Two other survey firms – Pulse Asia and Octa Research – show almost the same results, but with variations in ranking.

Anyway, the “winning” candidates have made use of the surveys to highlight their popularity in press releases and ads in the broadcast, print and online media.

“I am No. 1 in eight surveys,” so bragged Erwin Tulfo in a radio program.

Tolentino has never been among the 12 frontrunners in the surveys, which probably explains why he exposed China’s “intervention”.

Villar, previously outside of the winning circle, is now on 10^th place in the SWS final survey.
Well, what gives?

The news reports stress that nine out of 12  in the winning circle belong to the administration-backed multi-party alliance, the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.

So, how does this square with China’s alleged intervention?

My take is that not one among the nine Alyansa bets are anti-China. All of them used to be allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice-Pres. Sara Duterte, whose friendship with China cannot be denied.

This means that when all of them join the hold-overs in the present Senate, they could swing the Senate, transformed into an impeachment court, to acquit the House-impeached Sara.

But of course, there is no “magic 12” yet in its true sense.  We, not the pollsters, will have to decide that on May 12.

-oOo-

MORE POWER VOWS ‘SAFETY FOR ALL’

MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) is ready to ensure a safe environment for all households and businesses in Iloilo City.

The company has implemented transition programs and innovations including rate reduction, systems loss reduction and incidents of illegal connections.

“Safety for all,” stressed by MORE Power president and chief executive officer (CEO) Roel Castro.  “In our bid to be the leading world-class distribution utility in the country, we are committed to care for the people and environment.  In our plan to boost business dynamism in the community, we are as committed to bring delight to our power consumers, enrich the lives of our stakeholders, and foster a nurturing and learning culture.”

Safety for all, the company stressed, would be anchored on efforts to curb illegal connections and a strengthened anti-pilferage campaign.