By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency
The National Security Council (NSC) has expressed alarm over the arrest of three Filipino nationals for suspected espionage in China, saying they are mere “ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training.”
“They are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records and were vetted and screened by the Chinese government prior to their arrival there,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a statement on Saturday.
Citing the limited information released by Chinese media, Malaya said their detention “can be seen as a retaliation for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices” in the Philippines in recent months.
He also mentioned an edited video released by Chinese media showing alleged “confessions” by the arrested Filipinos.
He said the clip “raises more questions than answers” as a portion of one of the Filipinos’ statements, 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,” he said. “The ‘confessions’ appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely.”
The arrested three are former recipients of the Hainan Government Scholarship Program established under the sisterhood agreement between the provinces of Hainan and Palawan, which provided scholarships to 50 scholars from Palawan at the Hainan National University.
At that time, Malaya said, they only went to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to study.
Meanwhile, he assured the public that the Philippine government would prioritize their safety and well-being and ensure that they receive appropriate legal support.
“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,” he said.
He also called on the Filipino public to “remain vigilant and discerning in the face of these accusations.”
“Let us stand united in our commitment to truth, justice, and adherence to international law while prioritizing the well-being of our citizens abroad,” he said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier said it recognizes the significance of this matter but deferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is handling the case. (With report from Priam Nepomuceno)