'No region exempted': Chinese malign influence, interference in Philippines pervasive - NICA

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) confirmed Tuesday the existence of Chinese malign influence and foreign interference (MIFI) activities in the Philippines, with no region exempted from its influence.

NICADeputy Director General Francisco Ashley Acedillo told a Senate inquiry that the agency has been conducting continuous monitoring across all regional offices “and not just the region where Cagayan Valley belongs to”, following reports of alleged foreign interference there.

He added that he was willing to brief Sen. Risa Hontiveros and panel members in an executive session on the extent of Chinese malign influence and foreign interference activities in the country.

“[The] extent is pervasive. Mukhang wala pong region na exempted. Whether there are government officials or employees involved, we cannot make a determination until the respective regions are able to submit their conclusive reports,” he told the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.

He said an attempt to convert Fuga Island in Aparri into a smart city was blocked by the National Security Adviser and other intelligence officials due to national security concerns.

“There has been a confluence in the expansion of Chinese economic activities with the expansion of the nexus of espionage and criminal activities...It ties up conveniently with the National Security Law passed by China in 2017 directing all cities and entities in China to cooperate without fail with the Chinese government,” Acedillo said.

In the hearing, Acedillo also revealed that Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac was an “agent of influence” who used her position to influence public opinion or decision-making to benefit the country that hired her.

“The activities and facts that have come to light so far in this committee and in other committees in the House point to the fact that she is — and in discussion in intelligence communities there is consensus that she is an agent of influence,” he said.

“She uses her influence, her stature and position to influence public opinion or decision-making to produce results beneficial to the country whose services they benefit from,” he added.

A Chinese businessman who has claimed to be a spy for China’s Ministry of State Security also alleged that Guo is an intelligence agent of Beijing, a Senate inquiry revealed.

Guo, who was dismissed from office for grave misconduct, is facing graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion charges related to her alleged involvement in illegal gambling hubs.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Sen. Risa Hontiveros showed alleged files from Chinese businessman She Zhijiang showing information about Guo Hua Ping and other individuals.

“She Zhijiang  has access to the files of Guo Hua Ping and the members of her family. According to him, Guo Hua Ping is an intelligence agent. He has released some of these files for the Senate hearing,” Hontiveros said in the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality inquiry.

The senator noted She Zhijiang also operated in the Philippines starting Dec. 10, 2011 and was the subject of a 2014 court order for running an illegal casino.

A document presented before the Senate inquiry said the People’s Protectorate of the Economic and Technological Development Zone of Yantai City had identified She as facing charges for operating “private lottery platforms in the Philippines under the names New Asia, Wanda, Diyuan, and Tang Club without government approval and further illegally marketed lottery tickets to consumers in mainland China, hiring the defendants Liu Mou A, Zeng Mau, Shi Mou, Liao Moo, Lu Mou, LIU Mou B, and Wang Mou to assist him.”

Hontiveros said She was recruited by the Chinese Communist Party and had, at one time, been issued a 9G visa in 2017.

The senator said information uncovered by her committee showed offshore gaming firms were being used to sow disinformation among Filipinos.

“Mukhang hindi lang sugal, scamming and trafficking ang pakay ng mga compound na ito kundi fake news din. Di ako magtataka na ‘yung mga atake sa akin at sa mga kasamahan ko gaya ni Sen. Sherwin ay galing din sa mga POGO,” she said.

“POGO is a monster. Siya ay halimaw na gumagawa ng human trafficking, money laundering, torture at espionage.”

Hontiveros also revealed a photo of former Duterte economic adviser Michael Yang, which was allegedly provided by an intelligence source, saying "Yang is a key actor in Chinese intelligence operations here."