Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte suggested the domestic news outlet Rappler was linked to the US spies, adding the aim was to undermine his government.
The President banned Rappler from his events, saying the site probably had the backing of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
“That is the history of the American CIA and they look after political dissenters and eventually they will choose a candidate they can order around,” Duterte said according to news reports.
He said the online news platform, which has a reputation for its investigative reporting and its tough questioning, might be CIA-sponsored and it “takes every chance to undermine” his government.
It was not the first time the firebrand leader has said the CIA could be involved in Rappler.
Duterte has made no secret of his grudge against the United States, which has expressed concern over his ferocious drugs war, in which thousands of people have been killed in shootouts with police or unidentified gunmen.