AFP: No official reports received on alleged Pinoy spies in China

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday that it has not received any official reports on the arrest of alleged Filipino spies in China.

“On the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we have not received any official reports from relative authorities,” AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said at a press conference.

Asked about a supposed handler of the arrested Filipino who was allegedly linked to the AFP’s Intelligence Service, Trinidad said he “cannot proclaim” those particular statements as there is no official report yet.

“I cannot proclaim those particular statements. And we have yet to receive official reports that those are the claims of this particular country or any institutions or agency,” Trinidad said.

“Again, I think it was, as we heard from other news in social media, they're claiming to be reporting to Philippine Intelligence Agency pero wala po tayo noon (but we do not have that),” he added.

Chinese state media Global Times last week reported that three Filipinos were allegedly arrested for suspected espionage.

“China’s state security authorities have uncovered a case of Filipino espionage and apprehended three Filipino nationals suspected of spying in the country,” Global Times said on X (formerly Twitter).

“The investigation revealed that Philippine intelligence agencies have long been focused on gathering information about China’s military deployments,” it added.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Teresita Daza earlier said the agency has been formally made aware of the allegations against the three Filipinos.

“Protecting the rights and interests of the said Filipinos remains the prime priority for the Philippine Government,” Daza said.

“The Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou is providing all necessary assistance, including appropriate legal support, for the said Filipinos,” she added.

The National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Jonathan Malaya over the weekend raised questions over the charges of espionage against the Filipinos in Beijing.

For the NSC, this can be seen as a "retaliation" after Chinese spies were arrested in the Philippines.

"A portion of one of the Filipino's statement, while expressing regret, also notably portrayed China in a positive light. There was also mention of a ‘Philippine Intelligence Agency’ or ‘Philippine Spy Intelligence Services’ which is a non-existing government agency," Malaya said.

"The ‘confessions’ appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely," he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News