AFP tackles social media strategies vs fake news on West Philippine Sea

By Karen Anne Bernadas

PILI, Camarines Sur --- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) held a hybrid digital and social media summit for the Visayas on July 30 and 31, acknowledging that today’s battlefield now includes the information space as well as physical borders.

The summit aimed to help government communicators, public information officers, and military vloggers learn how to counter Chinese state-sponsored disinformation and support the country’s message about the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In Bicol, some military officers from the 9th Infantry Division, local media and personnel from the Philippine Information Agency participated virtually from Camp Elias Angeles here.

Colonel Edgardo Talaroc, Civil-Military Operations Joint Task Force commander, discussed the nature, characteristics, and long-term effects of cognitive warfare.

Talaroc emphasized maximizing official social media platforms to promote factual information on WPS, and counter the spread of fake news and disinformation online.

Meanwhile, Colonel Paul Anthony Guerrero, commander of the General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command, said that the AFP is now fighting two simultaneous battles: the physical defense of the country’s territorial integrity and the non-physical battle in the cognitive domain.

Guerrero explained that failing to integrate kinetic (physical) and non-kinetic (information and narrative) operations could weaken the country’s position in the information space.

“The next battle after the physical battle is the cognitive battle, and most of that happens in social media,” he said, describing the human mind as the ultimate battlefield where hostile actors seek to influence public perception.

He encouraged military vloggers and public affairs officers to use their digital platforms responsibly to combat misinformation.

“By training these influencers, the AFP aims to transform them into vanguards of truth who can proactively neutralize fake news before it takes root,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said that China employs various tactics to shape public perception, including obstructing Philippine resupply missions through dangerous maneuvers, using water cannons to intimidate Filipino forces, and spreading distorted narratives and propaganda to influence both domestic and international audiences.

Both Guerrero and Talaroc urged participants to maximize official social media platforms in promoting factual information and reinforcing that the Philippines upholds the rules-based international order.

“The ultimate goal of these digital strategies is to foster social cohesion and patriotism. Empowered people who are well-informed are more resilient and possess a stronger will to fight for our sovereignty,” Guerrero added.

The summit also highlighted the growing role of social media influencers within the uniformed service in promoting responsible online engagement.

Active-duty Philippine Army officer and military content creator McKwyn Storm, who has more than 200,000 Facebook followers, shared that the summit reminded participants that social media is more than just a platform for sharing content.

“We should use it with integrity, responsibility, and purpose because social media is a powerful tool to educate, inspire, and serve our nation. We have a responsibility, so every post while wearing the uniform should be intentional, factual, and helpful for nation-building,” she said in her vlog.

Participants likewise said that the summit strengthened their understanding of strategic communication in the digital age.

Amid Amoin of the Philippine Navy described the activity as a valuable learning opportunity that deepened his appreciation of the role of digital platforms in addressing misinformation, particularly concerning the West Philippine Sea.

“One of the biggest challenges today is the battle of narratives online—particularly over who has the rightful claim to the West Philippine Sea. We believe that the West Philippine Sea is ours because we have historical and legal bases for our claim. The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines on July 12, 2016. The West Philippine Sea is ours,” Amoin said.

Guerrero added that by being proactive in the digital space—sharing images of community engagement and routine patrols—the AFP can “shape the information environment” and ensure that fake news finds no fertile ground in the hearts of the Filipino people under the Bagong Pilipinas, being led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (PIA Bicol)