By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Wednesday backed Senator Francis Tolentino’s plan to file treason and espionage charges against officers and directors of a Makati-based public relations firm allegedly contracted by the Chinese Embassy to spread disinformation against the Philippines.
“I support the plan. Senator Tolentino should go ahead with it. Filipinos contracted by China to work against our national interest have betrayed their country, and that is treason,” he said in a statement.
A former law dean, Rodriguez cited the Revised Penal Code and the National Security Act as legal grounds to prosecute both Filipinos and foreigners involved in acts that undermine Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Let us apply these laws on Filipinos and foreigners working against the national interest, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Philippines,” he said.
Rodriguez was the first lawmaker to publicly call for the filing of criminal charges against Infinitus Marketing Solutions, Inc., the PR firm under scrutiny.
On April 25, he urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the company and pursue charges of treason and espionage.
Tolentino, who chairs the Senate special committee on maritime zones, announced Monday that the filing of such charges would be part of his upcoming committee report.
He claimed that the Chinese embassy contracted the PR firm to hire “keyboard warriors” to spread disinformation favoring China and criticizing the Philippines.
Tolentino said he has a copy of the contract and a check for PHP900,000 paid by the Chinese Embassy to Infinitus.
The firm’s founder Paul Li, a Chinese national, denied in a Senate hearing the existence of the contract but admitted the embassy paid the check to his company. (PNA)
