The provincial government of Catanduanes has officially requested the cybercrime units of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a thorough investigation into messages being circulated on social media that targets the safety of Filipino-Chinese community.
In separate letters to Christopher Paz of the DOJ Office of Cybercrime and Acting Director PBgen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, Governor Joseph Cua said the message exploits the present controversy involving Bamban Mayor Alice Guo to unjustly attack the Filipino-Chinese communities of which he and his family are part of.
“Its implications extend far beyond personal defamation, posing a significant threat to the safety and security of the Filipino-Chinese communities at large,” the chief executive stressed.
It may be recalled that the message, purportedly coming from a pilots’ Viber group and then circulated through various social media apps, began appearing sometime in the first week of June.
Along with several versions, it alleges that the Chinese have poured billions of pesos overnight to control the economy, infrastructure and local media of Catanduanes, bribing everyone from local officials to law enforcers and the local media.
“Most ships, gas stations, malls, markets, bus firms, cemeteries, resorts, hotels, restaurants, radio stations, tabloids and local papers (Catanduanes Tribune) have quickly become chinese owned., many using filipino fronts,” it claimed, adding that the Chinese runs an illegal coal mine for export to China and that “suddenly” Chinabank set up shop in Catanduanes.”
The circulating message sufficiently alarmed the top management of Chinabank that it reached out to its Virac branch for clarification.
“As a seasoned politician with more than two decades of dedicated service, I have come to a profound realization (that) the controversies hurled against me, often instigated by my political detractors, are mere distractions designed to divert attention from the true essence of my mission: serving the people,” Cua said in the letter.
“I recognize that these controversies are nothing more than propaganda—strategically orchestrated narratives meant to influence the current political dynamics of our province,” the governor added.
Nevertheless, he underscored, the malicious messages have compromised the safety of Filipino-Chinese individuals who are neither politicians nor public officials.
“These messages falsely suggest that private individuals and establishments, such as China Bank, are under the control of the People’s Republic of China, insinuating that they are acting as spies,” Cua stated.
The unfounded accusations of espionage activities near Benham Rise and the presence of Chinese ships frequenting Catanduanes are baseless and displaying clear xenophobia, he stressed.
“To label the Chinese lineage shared by the Filipino-Chinese community as indicative of espionage is a flagrant act of racism and discrimination,” the governor said. “Such vile and unfounded accusations have no place in our society, as they undermine the principles of equality and respect that bind our nation.”
He expressed concern that the disinformation could lead to the marginalization of the Filipino-Chinese families and potentially lead to social unrest.
Serious threats could be leveled against their businesses and commercial enterprises, which would adversely impact the local economy, with the hardworking members of the community possibly encountering prejudice and violence, Cua noted.
Historically, Filipinos of Chinese heritage have been recognized as citizens under Section 4 of the Philippine Bill of 1902 and Section 2 of the Jones Law of 1916.
Inhabitants of the islands who were Spanish subjects on April 11, 1899, and did not opt to retain Spanish nationality between April 11, 1899, and October 11, 1900, including their children, were deemed citizens of the Philippines, thus acknowledging their rightful place in the country, the letter emphasized
In targeting not only legitimate Filipinos with proud Chinese heritage, Cua pointed out thatthe circulating message undermines the rich historical recognition of the Filipino-Chinese community and disregards their silent yet impactful contributions to the nation’s growth.
He urged both agencies of government to take swift and decisive action to address the issue and ensure that the principles of equality, respect, and justice are upheld for all citizens, especially in the province of Catanduanes.