Ex-PCO chief admits China funded seminar attended by pro-Duterte vloggers and social media influencers, covering all travel and accommodation expenses.
Former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles admitted that the Chinese government funded the attendance of several vloggers and social media influencers, mostly pro-Duterte, at a seminar in China.
Cruz-Angeles made the admission during a congressional hearing on fake news and online disinformation on Friday.
During the hearing, Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez questioned Cruz-Angeles about China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) and its role in training journalists from various countries.
Suarez presented a photo of attendees at the NRTA seminar, which included Cruz-Angeles and several other pro-Duterte vloggers.
Cruz-Angeles confirmed her awareness of such programs and admitted that she was one of the invited participants.
She named some of her fellow attendees at the seminar, which took place from May 23 to June 5, 2023, in China.
When asked who funded the trip, Cruz-Angeles admitted that the seminar was “sponsored,” with the Chinese government covering airfare, accommodation, and seminar expenses.
The former PCO chief also revealed that the invitation came directly from the Chinese Embassy, which regularly selects participants for such programs.
Suarez emphasized that the seminar was a “state-funded activity” by China aimed at training journalists, including vloggers.
Cruz-Angeles acknowledged that the seminar introduced them to the latest trends in social media.
When asked if it was her first time attending such a seminar, she stated that it was the first vlogger-focused training she had participated in.
She also admitted to previously joining a Chinese government-funded program as part of a cultural exchange in Xi’an.
Cruz-Angeles insisted that the seminar did not influence her political views, stating that she was already familiar with China’s history.
Rep. Suarez pointed out that the resource persons admitted to benefiting from the state-sponsored seminar and urged them to use their newly acquired knowledge “for the benefit of the Philippines.”