Alyansa bets raise alarm over foreign threats, push for stronger cybersecurity

Metro Manila, Philippines - Administration senatorial candidates have sounded the alarm over possible foreign interference in the upcoming May 12 midterm elections, calling for urgent improvements to cybersecurity defenses.

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson called for a fortified digital infrastructure, particularly within national security agencies. He urged the government to seek the help of private sector cybersecurity experts against increasingly sophisticated threats.

“We need to build stronger firewalls in our agencies,” Lacson said, warning that foreign actors, especially state-backed groups, may be targeting critical institutions through hacking and surveillance.

Re-electionist Senator Francis Tolentino said coordinated online attacks against the Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas slate began shortly after the passage of the Philippine Maritime Zones Law in late 2024. He said these were likely orchestrated by foreign-backed networks aiming to undermine the law and discredit lawmakers who supported it.

“Just days after the law was signed, we saw a surge of online attacks including in Pangasinan coming from troll operations linked to foreign interests,” Tolentino said.

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo warned that the online campaigns could influence the election outcome by favoring candidates aligned with foreign agenda.

“If we’re not vigilant, we risk having a Senate and Congress that take orders from outside the country. This is about protecting our national interest,” Tulfo said, urging voters to support a “pro-Filipino” slate.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not in the Alyansa program in Dagupan City, Pangasinan as he is in the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis.