Manila, April 24 -- Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday presented documents linking the Chinese Embassy in Manila to a covert online disinformation campaign in the Philippines, by allegedly tapping a local marketing firm.

During the continuation of the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones' public inquiry into reported espionage activities in the country, Tolentino claimed the Chinese Embassy paid about PHP930,000 to Philippine-based Infinitus Marketing Solutions to create and operate troll farms.

The keyboard warriors were tasked to spread disinformation, attack Philippine government officials, and promote pro-China narratives under fake social media profiles, he said, citing contract details and ban...