Disinformation has become a powerful weapon in the fight over the West Philippine Sea.
Watchdog Center for Information Resilience and Integrity Studies (CIRIS), led by Michel Andre del Rosario, its Executive Director and a former Assistant Secretary under former Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, is leading the charge to expose false information and protect the Philippines’ sovereignty.
“CIRIS was born out of the realization that combating disinformation isn’t just about fact-checking—it’s about protecting our sovereignty,” Del Rosario said.
The watchdog works with journalists, researchers, and former officials to make complex issues understandable and engaging for the public. Their goal is to turn truth into action.
“Disinformation around the WPS is not random noise. It’s information warfare designed to erode our resolve, divide our society, and diminish our confidence in defending what is rightfully ours,” Del Rosario said.
The group combats false claims, fake experts, and AI-generated accounts through its ARM Framework: Awareness, Resilience, Motivation. They also support documentary films like “Food Delivery” and the upcoming movie “Alon ng Kabayanihan,” which highlights soldiers and fishermen defending Philippine waters.
“Alon ng Kabayanihan,” is a movie starring Sid Lucero, Carlo Aquino and Ryza Cenon, produced in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“We want audiences to leave with clarity and conviction. The West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines, and protecting it is a shared responsibility,” Dela Rosa said.
CIRIS urged younger Filipinos to pause, verify, and think critically before sharing information online. They also called on Filipinos to challenge falsehoods, rely on trusted sources, and engage in protecting the nation’s facts.
“Call out disinformation. Call out fear-mongering. Defending our sovereignty begins with defending the truth,” he said.
It stressed how important the “truth” as a weapon to strengthen the Philippines’ resolve in the face of disinformation and foreign coercion.
“In the West Philippine Sea, our sovereignty is on the line. But so is our reality, our truths. Fighting for the truth is fighting for our future,” Del Rosario concluded.
— Rosette Adel
