SENATE DEPUTY Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called for the immediate strengthening of the country’s Anti-Espionage Law following the arrest of a Chinese national accused of espionage and increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“The Senate must immediately enhance our existing Anti-Espionage Law,” Hontiveros said in a statement Tuesday.
“Habang patuloy na pabalik-balik ang monster ship ng Tsina sa West Philippine Sea, dapat matiyak ng ating gobyerno na hindi natin hahayaan lang na napapaligiran na tayo ng mga espiya (As China's monster ship continues to sail back and forth in the West Philippine Sea, our government must ensure that we don't just let ourselves be surrounded by spies).”
Hontiveros pointed to previous incidents that flagged potential threats, including the Visa Upon Arrival scheme at the Bureau of Immigration, which she said allowed many Chinese nationals to enter the country without proper immigration checks.
She also raised concerns about Chinese nationals involved in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.
During an investigation of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which Hontiveros chairs, Chinese national Alice Guo was identified by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency as an “agent of influence.”
“Allegations of self-confessed Chinese spy She Zhijiang that Guo is a fellow spy have also not been put to rest. Government must continue to exhaust all efforts to reach out to She and obtain information so crucial for our security” Hontiveros added.
“I trust that the DND (Department of National Defense), together with other relevant agencies, is on top of this matter. We have to take this seriously for the sake of our national security, our national interest, our sovereignty.”
DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has been urging lawmakers to amend the laws to allow the government to punish espionage activities even during peacetime. (Wilnard Bacelonia)
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