Although the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recognizes the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) as taking the lead in addressing the case of alleged Filipino espionage arrests in China, it emphasized that it is ready to assist if needed.
"The AFP recognizes the significance of this matter. As it falls under the purview of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) or the DMW, we defer to their expertise and mandate. The AFP remains ready to support as needed," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said in statement.
According to Chinese state media outlet The Global Times, three Filipinos were arrested for allegedly spying on China’s military deployment.
The report, however, did not clarify whether these were the same Filipinos previously reported to have been arrested after flying from Palawan to attend a seminar under a sisterhood agreement between local government units.
Meanwhile, Padilla said the AFP has not received any official report from relevant authorities regarding the alleged espionage incident.
The DFA is currently verifying the situation "through appropriate diplomatic channels", said Padilla.
The DFA and DMW have not released a statement on the situation yet.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro earlier said that the incident proves that the communist government in Beijing cannot be trusted.
