AFP battling online fake news on West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — Alarmed by fake news on the West Philippine Sea issue swarming various social media platforms, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is stepping up its fight against disinformation in the cyber domain where China’s deceptive narrative appears to be gaining followers.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. announced yesterday the military’s new initiative – Communication Plan (COMPLAN) Mulat (Awake) – at a press briefing after his mid-year command conference with President Marcos at Camp Aguinaldo.

The program aims to counter false narratives and information on the internet that undermine the Philippines’ effort to counter China’s growing aggressiveness in staking its illegal claim in the West Philippine Sea, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said. The military did not reveal details of the program.

The AFP has been alerting the public and the media to the proliferation in cyberspace of pro-China fake news, including manipulated photos and videos of supply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, transport of military equipment and even maritime patrols.

Brawner said “Mulat” aims to bolster transparency, counter disinformation and enhance public awareness of the Philippines’ rights and interests in the region.

COMPLAN Mulat revolves around the theme “Our Seas, Our Rights, Our Future.”

“We will continue to defend our seas, our rights and our future. What we’re doing is not just for the present, but for the future generations of Filipinos as well,” Brawner said.

Also at the briefing, Brawner called on the public to remain calm amid Sen. Imee Marcos’ claim that China had 25 targets in the country for possible missile attacks.

“We’re appealing to our countrymen – don’t panic just because of this information. We’ve not seen report to this effect that there were 25 targets. So therefore, I’m in no position to comment. I myself have not seen such report, especially the location of the 25 supposed targets,” he said.

But he said the AFP would be coordinating with the senator’s office as well as with other relevenat agencies for more – and detailed – information regarding the reported missile targets. He stressed the AFP has the capability to defend the country against missile attacks.

“Meaning we will plan according to the information that we gather and also on the projected actions of perhaps other countries who would like to let’s say influence or come into the country or have adversarial intentions on the country,” he said.

“We should all know and study this. Your Armed Forces of the Philippines including the security sector of our country – we are all helping one another realize our real situation. So there’s no need to panic because of such information. We are still in the process of verifying this,” he pointed out.

But at any rate, the AFP is taking all precautions to deal with the scenario of a missile attack.

“One of the things we can do is harden our facilities, we protect our facilities from possible missile attacks. There are many technologies available that can help us protect ourselves from those kinds of attacks,” he said.

“These are the realities that we have to face – not just missile attacks but drone attacks like what we’re seeing in Ukraine, even in Israel and Gaza. So we’re now seeing the face of modern warfare,” Brawner said.

“We’re studying this and we know we need to take action or steps that will allow us to defend the country from these kinds of attack,” he added.

He said this is one of the reasons why the Philippine Air Force is eyeing the acquisition of more multi-role fighter jets that are faster and more combat-ready than the FA50s currently in service in the military.

Monster ship in Escoda

Meanwhile, China coast guard’s “Monster Ship” is still in the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, appearing to shadow the BRP Teresa Magbanua of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), according to Sealight director and defense and maritime expert Ray Powell.

“Tonight at Sabina (Escoda) Shoal in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, China’s massive 12,000-ton intimidator, China Coast Guard 5901 (‘The Monster’), now keeps watch over the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua,” he said in a post on X Wednesday night.

An updated X post of Powell indicated the “Monster Ship” was still in the vicinity of Escoda Shoal yesterday. “One militia ship moving SE (South East) of Sabina. ‘The Monster’ (CCG 5901) still at Sabina ~600m from BRP Teresa Magbanua,” Powell reported.

Several other Chinese boats and maritime militia vessels appeared to be in blocking position near the mouth of the shoal, which is well within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

“The Philippine Navy, the PCG, BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) and all other government instrumentalities have to ensure that our territory is intact, our sovereignty and sovereign rights are protected,” Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said on Tuesday when asked at a briefing if Teresa Magbanua was being considered to serve as a military outpost in Escoda.

“This will mean increased presence, this will mean increased maritime and air patrols, this will mean stationing ships longer than necessary. Rest assured again the government instrumentalities we are doing everything that we can, with all that we have to ensure that our sovereignty and sovereign rights are protected,” he said.

Maintaining presence in Escoda Shoal should send a message to the country’s neighbors “that we have maritime domain awareness, not only through the presence of our ships, coast guard, navy or BFAR but to the other modes of monitoring, this could be space-based or through aerial surveillance flights.”

Last July 2, PCG Commodore and spokesman Jay Tarriela reported three 44-meter patrol vessels joined the Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal “after successfully completing their resupply missions at various maritime features where the PCG has substations before heading back to port.”

The Teresa Magbanua was sent to Escoda Shoal following reports from UP marine scientiests that the Chinese were destroying the marine environment in the area with their “small-scale island reclamation.” Escoda Shoal is only 75 kilometers from Palawan’s nearest coastline. - Ghio Ong