In the wake of a Chinese national’s arrest on espionage charges and escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros has demanded swift action to bolster the nation’s Anti-Espionage Law. Hontiveros emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, ‘The Senate must immediately enhance our existing Anti-Espionage Law.’ She highlighted the persistent presence of China’s ‘monster ship’ in the West Philippine Sea as a clear sign that the government must prevent the country from being encircled by spies.
Hontiveros also brought attention to past security lapses, such as the Visa Upon Arrival scheme at the Bureau of Immigration, which she believes has facilitated the entry of numerous Chinese nationals without adequate vetting. Additionally, she expressed concerns over the involvement of Chinese nationals in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.
During a Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality investigation, which Hontiveros leads, Chinese national Alice Guo was labeled an ‘agent of influence’ by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. Hontiveros noted that allegations from self-confessed Chinese spy She Zhijiang, who claimed Guo was also a spy, remain unresolved. She stressed the importance of the government’s continued efforts to gather critical security information from She.
Hontiveros expressed confidence in the Department of National Defense (DND) and other agencies to address these issues effectively, underscoring the necessity of taking these matters seriously for the sake of national security, interest, and sovereignty. DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has been advocating for legal amendments to enable the government to prosecute espionage even during peacetime.