MALACAÑANG ORDERS PROBE INTO ALLEGED MAY POLL FOREIGN INTERFERENCE

MALACAÑANG on Friday expressed serious concern over reports from the National Security Council (NSC) indicating possible foreign interference in the May 12 midterm elections.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said: “Ito po ay talagang nakakaalarma,” referring to the potential external influence in the midterm elections.

Castro noted that when the issue reached President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., he immediately ordered an immediate and deeper investigation.

“Nakarating na po ito sa Pangulo kaya po kailangan po talaga ng maagaran, mas malalim na pag-iimbestiga,” she added.

Castro assured that the concerned government agencies would intensify the investigation into the matter to ensure the integrity of the election process.

“At paiigtingin pa po natin ang imbestigasyon patungkol dito,” Castro said.

During the April 24 Senate hearing on submersible drones and possible espionage activities, NSC disclosed that “there are indications that information operations are being conducted that are Chinese state-sponsored in the Philippines and are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections.”

When asked to elaborate on the specific interference indicators, Castro said the concerned government agencies are still gathering information.

“Sa ngayon po, ang sinabi po sa atin ay pa-iimbestigahan pa po muna para malaman natin kung ano pa po ang mga detalye dito at kung ano po ang napapaloob sa mga ganitong klaseng pangyayari,” she said.

During a hearing on Thursday by the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones chaired by Senate Majority Leader Francis “TOL” Tolentino on maritime security, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said: “Chinese state-sponsored actors in the Philippines are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections.”