Chinese interference
Representatives from election observers and Commissioner Aimee Ferolino of the Commission on Elections attend the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the Random Manual Audit of the 2025 Philippine midterm elections at the Commission on Elections in Manila, Philippines, on April 4, 2025. The random manual audit is a provision in the Philippines' automated election law that double-checks a selected sample of ballots to ensure they match the scanned ballots fed into the Automated Counting Machine during the elections. The Philippines has three elections in 2025, with its midterm national and local elections on May 12, 2025, the parliamentary election in its Bangsamoro region on October 13, 2025, and the local barangay elections on December 1, 2025. (Photo by Richard James Mendoza/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Alyansa raises alarm over alleged Chinese interference in 2025 elections

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MANILA, Philippines – The administration-allied Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas sounded the alarm on Saturday, April 26, over allegations of Chinese interference in the upcoming 2025 elections, calling it a “matter of national security.”

“Disclosures by our top security officials about possible foreign meddling in the elections are truly alarming,” said Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco. The congressman is Alyansa’s campaign manager.

Tiangco stressed that the right of Filipinos to freely elect their leaders — without manipulation, pressure, or foreign influence — is non-negotiable.

“Any attempt to interfere in our electoral process is a direct violation of our national integrity and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” he said.

Tiangco urged authorities to investigate the reports urgently and hold accountable those involved.

Chinese Interference Probe

The alarm came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a probe into the report of National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya. The report flagged indications of Chinese state-sponsored information operations seeking to sway the elections.

According to Malaya, narratives favorable to Beijing were being amplified by third-party individuals and local proxies in the Philippines. Intelligence agencies have also briefed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on candidates allegedly backed by China, he said.

“Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas stands firmly with the Filipino people,” Tiangco said. “Our future must be determined by us alone.”

The allegations have intensified concerns about foreign influence in Philippine democracy. Election watchdogs and security agencies have also heightened the alert ahead of the 2025 polls.

About The Author

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Antonio Manaytay

Antonio Manaytay is a journalist, editor, and pastor reporting for Rappler and leading the Daily Sun Chronicle. A 2024 Klima Fellow, he covers climate, governance, and grassroots resilience in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

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