The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has issued a subpoena to a company in Makati that was allegedly contracted by the Chinese embassy to operate keyboard warriors and interfere in the midterm elections. Assistant Director Noel Bocaling of the NBI Intelligence Service confirmed that they began investigating last week after the National Security Council (NSC) raised concerns.
“We will fix this, that’s why we subpoenaed them on Friday,” Bocaling said, emphasizing the urgency of the investigation. The NBI’s move follows allegations by Senator Francis Tolentino in a Senate hearing, where he revealed that the Chinese embassy paid a company for crisis and issue management services.
Tolentino even showed a check as proof of payment, further strengthening suspicions about a foreign-funded troll operation. According to Bocaling, “We saw that some things Senator Tolentino said were somewhat true, some were not.”
While the NBI has identified the company's owners and foreign incorporators, Bocaling said the investigation is still ongoing and the results are not yet final. The NBI, however, paid tribute to the political neutrality of its office, and assured that it does not favor any party.
The NBI also warned that if the company does not comply with the subpoena, they are ready to issue a warrant to access the company's digital records. China denied the accusations, saying they have no interest in interfering in Philippine elections.
