2 Palawan residents detained in China over espionage claim

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—The provincial government of Palawan confirmed on Wednesday that two of its residents, who were former scholars under the Hainan Government Scholarship Program in China, were taken into custody by Chinese authorities last year.

The arrest of the two Palaweños, which was verified by the Consulate General of the Philippines in Guangzhou, China, was disclosed by Board Member Ryan Maminta during the regular session of the provincial board on Tuesday. Maminta, however, declined to identify them.

But Maminta said their families were asking for assistance, as he sought updates on their status from the concerned provincial and national government agencies.

In his privilege speech, he said the scholars, both male, “are currently detained by the government of China on allegations of espionage.”

Maminta added that there were also unconfirmed reports of another local from Palawan who might be detained with the two in China.

The Provincial Information Office (PIO) also released an official statement on Wednesday, confirming that the two belonged to the first and second batches of recipients of the provincial government’s scholarship program.

Migrant workers

This program, part of the sisterhood agreement between Hainan, China, and Palawan, was forged in 2017 to provide scholarships to 50 Palaweños at Hainan Normal University from 2018 to 2022.

Both had already graduated from the program and returned home but later went back to China as migrant workers after receiving job offers from their friends.

The family of one of the arrested individuals first sought assistance from the technical working group of the Hainan Government Scholarship Program after losing communication with their son in November 2024.

The provincial government immediately coordinated with the Philippine consulate in Guangzhou. The consulate confirmed on Nov. 14, 2024, that the individual was placed under police custody.

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In February, the provincial government received further information from the Consulate General in China, through the Department of Migrant Workers, that another former scholar had also been taken into custody by the police.

The PIO statement also explained that although the case was brought to the provincial government’s attention back in October 2024, it withheld the information to protect the privacy and security of the individuals and their families.

“At the same time, we continued to work closely with the Consul General to ensure their welfare and provide them with the necessary legal assistance,” the statement read.

“Despite this situation, the Public National Security Department of Hainan Province has assured us that the lawful rights and welfare of the detained Palaweños will be safeguarded and that they are committed to providing updates on any developments regarding their case,” it added.

The provincial government, however, has assured the public that it has been maintaining constant communication with the families of the concerned individuals to keep them updated on the status of the detainees.