The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has warned of foreign meddling through information manipulation and by influencing public opinion, especially with the approach of the 2028 national elections.

NBI director Melvin Matibag revealed the bureau’s concerns Thursday during a Senate budget hearing, after Senator JV Ejercito asked if China might be behind social media campaigns to discredit the government and politicians critical of Beijing’s activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Ejercito cited the relentless social media attacks against Philippine government officials and politicians who have taken positions against China’s activities in the WPS.

“I feel that China funds many of the trolls and keyboard warriors, at the same time, of course, other politicians. Is it possible they are funding this? Can we monitor whether external or foreign funding is being used to fund these social media activities?” Ejercito asked Matibag during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, which he chairs.

Matibag said the NBI was looking into foreign influence operations involving information manipulation and attempts to shape public sentiment.

The issue came up as government agencies prepare for the 2028 national elections, raising concerns over the use of social media and foreign resources to influence the political discourse.

The NBI mandate covers cybercrime and international operations, among other areas.

Matibag said they had evidence these “anti-government” online operations were tied to foreign organizations, though he stopped short of attributing it to China.

He said the operations included cyber fraud and were also linked to transnational organized crime syndicates.

“Not necessarily a foreign government, but there is an effort to do that because when we follow it, we see that it is going in that direction,” he said.

Strong U.S. backing

Matibag said the NBI, with help from the United States Department of Homeland Security, plans to establish a Transnational Crime Investigation Unit to counter foreign-linked cyber operations and avert economic and political attacks during the upcoming elections.

“I mentioned earlier that the 2028 elections are coming. There can be conditioning by the platforms funded by a foreign entity, not necessarily a foreign sovereign, but there are strong indications,” Matibag said.

School shootings, too?

Senator Francis Pangilinan raised his concern that the suspected foreign cyber network may also be behind the unprecedented rise in campus violence, citing the three deadly school shootings between June and September.

Pangilinan pointed out that these incidents were “unusual,” sparking suspicions they may be “organized, syndicated and calibrated.”

“And I wouldn’t be surprised if they are, as a means to create chaos, to create instability, to create fear, and to make the government look weak,” he said.

Pangilinan said he has repeatedly been a victim of large-scale disinformation to influence the public perception which began during the past administrations.

“So if it can be done in [an] electoral campaign, then it can also be done today. You know, it got me thinking, never in [my] 20-plus years in the Senate [have I seen] a mass shooting every month. Out of the blue, this year alone,” Pangilinan said.

Matibag told the senators the NBI has drafted a legislative framework called “age gating,” which restricts users’ access to a website or app based on a minimum age requirement, though it would entail additional funding.