The National Security Council has expressed alarm following the arrest of three Filipinos in China for alleged espionage.
NSC Assistant Director-General Jonathan Malaya clarified that the Filipinos who were arrested were former recipients of the Hainan Government Scholarship Program.
He further emphasized that the individuals are simply ordinary Filipino citizens without any military training, who went to China at the Chinese government’s invitation to study.
“They are ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training who merely went to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to study,” Malaya stated.
“They are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records and were vetted and screened by the Chinese government prior to their arrival there,” he added.
Malaya stressed that the release of an "edited video" by Chinese media, which allegedly features confessions from the arrested Filipinos, only serves to raise more questions than offer any answers.
He also highlighted that in one of the Filipino's statements, while regret was expressed, there was a clear portrayal of China in a favorable manner.
Moreover, he criticized the mention of a "Philippine Intelligence Agency" or "Philippine Spy Intelligence Services," reiterating that such a government agency does not exist.
“The ‘confessions’ appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely,” said Malaya.
“Given the limited information released by Chinese media, the arrests can be seen as a retaliation for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices by Philippine law enforcement and counter-intelligence agencies in recent months,” he firmly added.
In light of this, Malaya emphasized that the safety and well-being of the Filipinos involved remains the NSC's top priority.
The NSC will maintain coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to ensure that the arrested Filipinos receive the necessary legal assistance and are afforded due process, considering the seriousness of the allegations.
“We urge the Chinese government to respect their rights and afford them every opportunity to clear their names in the same way that the rights of Chinese nationals are respected here in the Philippines,” Malaya mentioned.
Ultimately, Malaya emphasized that the NSC is urging Filipinos to be vigilant and discerning in response to the accusations, while calling for unity in upholding truth, justice, and international law, all while prioritizing the welfare of Filipinos abroad.
A report from state-controlled China Daily stated that Chinese authorities have arrested three Filipino nationals on charges of espionage, accusing them of working with the Philippine intelligence agency to gather sensitive military information about China.
