De Lima: We needanti-espionage law
Rep. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal Party-list on Saturday renewed her call for the passage of a new law against foreign espionage operations in the country following the exposure of alleged Beijing-directed Filipino spies.
De Lima filed House Bill 1844, or the proposed “Anti-Espionage Act” in July 2025, which seeks to amend the Revised Penal Code provision on spies by imposing higher penalties for espionage. She said that the approval of the bill was “long overdue,” noting that the presence of spies in the country is “no longer a surprise.”
In a post on X on Saturday, De Lima also expressed concern that some Filipinos were also involved in foreign-directed malign activities possibly in exchange for big amounts of money.
The National Security Council (NSC) disclosed on Wednesday that three Filipino civilians were taken into custody last year and admitted passing sensitive information concerning national security matters to foreign contacts suspected to be working for Chinese intelligence.
The three—two men and a woman—were an analyst at the Department of National Defense, a researcher in the Philippine Navy and one who had close ties to a Philippine Coast Guard officer.
Info on Ayungin missions
They passed on information that included the resupply and rotation of troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre, the decrepit military outpost on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal that has been an irritating Filipino presence for the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea.
De Lima urged for the passage of the antispying measure “to strengthen our national security policies and counter-espionage measures to adequately respond to threats against our country.”
The security agencies must be given sufficient resources to conduct a nationwide crackdown on spies, she said. She called on Filipinos to stand “united in our fight to end all forms of espionage and protect our national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests.”
Under the Revised Penal Code, espionage is punished with six months to a maximum of six years in prison. Under De Lima’s proposal, the penalty will be imprisonment of 12 to 20 years, plus a fine of at least P20 million but not more than P30 million.
The House committees on the revision of laws, and national defense and security approved on Feb. 10, 2026, a subcommittee report on the consolidation of 10 proposed anti-espionage bills.
Strong embassy denial
In a strongly worded statement, China’s embassy in Manila vehemently denied the espionage allegations.
Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng on Thursday said that the accusations were “malicious smears against China” and “another attempt to hype up the so-called ‘China threat’ rhetoric,” adding that the Philippines had “fabricated” a series of spy cases.
But on Saturday, Philippine officials shot back, saying confessions and verified evidence confirmed the existence of a Chinese-linked espionage network.
NSC Assistant Director General Cornelio Valencia Jr. told a news forum that investigators documented transmissions and admissions from the individuals involved.
“Let us focus on the facts. There was confession. There is a bulk of investigation reports that we have. And they could not deny it,” Valencia said.
Valencia said the Philippine government’s priority was protecting sensitive information and raising awareness among citizens.
“What is important is that we are able to secure our own house and we have to strengthen that. We have to ask our countrymen also not to give in to these manipulations,” he said.
Stricter camp security
At Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the military on Saturday started stricter implementation of security regulations pertaining to foreigners entering the camp, including their use of its recreational facilities such as its golf course and tennis courts.
All foreign nationals must secure the proper clearances before entering all military camps in the country, the AFP said in a statement.
But it clarified that there was no outright ban against any nationality, including Chinese.
“These measures are part of internal security protocols within military camps and are intended to ensure the safety and integrity of AFP installations,” the AFP said in a statement.
In her post on X, De Lima said that “the pro-China policy of the previous administration has a major influence here—those ‘Tsinadors’ and current officials who side more with foreigners when it comes to defending our sovereignty, as well as the paid trolls spreading disinformation and fake news regarding the West Philippine Sea.”
Tsinadors is a term that became popular on social media to refer to allegedly pro-China senators, who are also supporters of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte.
“If there are people with that kind of stance and mindset, what is to stop others from also allowing themselves to be used by foreigners?” De Lima said.
‘Reasonable to assume’
Her sentiments were shared by Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.
“If the People’s Republic of China is engaging in espionage against our defense establishments, it is reasonable to assume they could extend similar influence operations to our civilian agencies,” he said in a statement, citing potential risks in academic exchanges, media delegations, and sister city partnerships.
Tarriela also responded to the Chinese embassy’s protestation.
“Stop accusing us of hyping up anti-China sentiments—it is not our actions that fuel this,” he said. “It is your deliberate aggressive and illegal behaviors that tarnish your own image, not us.”
He said, however, that China’s embassy staff in Manila may have no knowledge about Beijing’s espionage work in the country “as they might be compartmentalized by their own government in such espionage operations.”
But the embassy should not dismiss the allegations, noting that authorities have “testimonies, evidence, and a full understanding of how the individuals were recruited to sell information to the PRC,” Tarriela said.
