Disinformation, fake news ‘most pressing challenge’ as Philippines ramps up cyber defences

Disinformation and fake news are the Philippines’ “most pressing challenge” now in fortifying its claim in the South China Sea, military and coastguard officials say, while touting gains achieved through their assertive transparency initiatives to counter foreign narratives.

Without naming any specific adversary, Armed Forces of the Philippines’ General Rommel Cordova, who spoke on behalf of Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr, told a security forum in Manila on Wednesday that the realities the Philippines faced had forced them to rethink and refine their approach to defence.

“As the world changes, so too must our strategy for defending our nation. The threats we confront are no longer limited to physical incursions or territorial disputes,” Cordova said, adding that battlefields had evolved “into new and more complex arenas such as cyberscape and the information environment”.

“While traditional territorial defence remains vital, we are now dealing with adversaries that operate in domains far removed from physical confrontation. The rise of cyberattacks, information warfare, and disinformation campaigns are stark reminders that conflict has entered a new frontier in this digital age,” Cordova said.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, accused China of “investing heavily in malign operations” to undermine the Philippines’ transparency approach.