Ridon: Why are same ‘talking heads’ defending Dutertes, China?

MANILA — At least one House member is considering seeking hearings into a perceived intersection between people they called propagandists for China and supporters of the Duterte family.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon alleged that the same “talking heads” he sees as supportive of China are also supportive of the Dutertes.

“Isang araw, pinagtatanggol ang mga Duterte. Pinagtatanggol ang atin pong pangalawang pangulo. But immediately afterwards, the next day, ang pinagtatanggol na po Tsina mismo,” he said, adding the coincidence seems “too obvious.”

(One day they defend the Dutertes and the vice president. But immediately afterwards, the next day, they defend China.)

He said House members are still crafting the resolution that will seek an investigation into what he called the Duterte and pro-China propaganda networks.

“Pagka-tiningnan ho talaga natin, iisa lang ho ‘yung mga tao na nagsasalita tungkol dito,” he said.

(If we really look at it, it is the same people talking about those topics.)

The 1987 Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and there is no law against disagreeing with government policy, including on the West Philippine Sea.

Agencies have also however raised warnings of supposed influence operations to sway sentiment on social media about issues like the dispute with China and to cast doubt on the Philippine government and its officials.

“‘Yan ho ‘yung kailangan natin malaman kasi ang puwedeng dulo ho nito (We need to find out because in the end we may have to ask), are we talking about the same funders? Are we talking about the same, well, ideologies? Or are we talking about treasonous acts,” Ridon said. 

He said the intersection may be about spreading Chinese influence in the Philippines.

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said she would consider supporting the resolution when it is ready.

The House held similar hearings in 2025 where lawmakers grilled vloggers and social media influencers over supposed “fake news” — a catch-all term for misinformation and disinformation.