Socmed page recruiting soldiers shut down – AFP

THE social media page allegedly recruiting soldiers and persons with military backgrounds allegedly run by China has been shut down, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Wednesday.

“Apparently, this site has already been taken down as of this moment, it’s gone,” AFP spokesman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

No other details were provided on how the page was taken down.

She said that the AFP started looking into the matter a few days ago to check the veracity of reports claiming that active and retired military personnel have applied to work as part-time analysts for the social media page.

Reports said these individuals, once accepted, will be tasked to write reports on military life and other hot military topics.

The site is reportedly connected to a US military advertising agency which upon casual checking showed leads to a domain name showing Chinese origin.

Despite the page’s takedown, Padilla said that they were able to secure “screenshots of those who have tried to apply online.” However, she clarified that the AFP could not check the “private messages” of the prospective applicants.

“But with the ‘screenshots’, as of this time, we are investigating whether we have involved personnel who managed to apply,” Padilla said.

She said that the military, along with other concerned agencies, are tracking those behind the account and whether there were personnel who divulged or leaked any sensitive information.

“We are considering this as a national security concern,” Padilla said.