The Department of National Defense (DND) has been called on to tighten the country’s internal security protocols in response to threats of foreign espionage.
In a report by RH 12 Milky Rigonan, House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun appealed that key government facilities, military camps, and embassies be safeguarded from such threats.
Attempts at hacking into government facilities must be barred as these pose a danger to national security; perpetrators responsible for breaches are not merely “curious” but have intentions and plans, said Khonghun. He was adamant that officials must ensure the country has sufficient defences against espionage.
“This is not just a simple case of a foreigner who is merely curious about our government. These spies obviously have the intent, and a plan of action. We cannot just brush this aside. We have to make sure that we have sufficient measures to counter such foreign spies,” he said.
The congressman also urged the agency to bolster counterintelligence.
“It is not enough that we just issue a simple condemnation about these incidents, which we observed are now in succession. We have to strengthen our counterintelligence and ensure that we have the right technology to avert these spying activities within our territory,” he spoke of the recent capture of suspects believed to be engaged in intelligence-gathering activities.
On February 20, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) nabbed two Chinese nationals and three Filipino accomplices for allegedly violating the Espionage Act.
The agency discovered the group had been using a vehicle equipped with an International Mobile Subscriber Identity or IMSI catchers. The apparatus is reportedly capable of accessing and intercepting mobile communications.
