BI working on cases vs. protectors of ‘foreign spies’

Metro Manila, Philippines - Cases will be filed against individuals who have assisted and protected the operations of foreign spies in the country, the Bureau of Immigration warned.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau is working closely with law enforcement authorities to identify and apprehend the coddlers.

“Should we confirm that there are individuals—whether Filipinos or foreign nationals—that hid or assisted these alleged spies, we will file cases against them for harboring illegal aliens, in violation of section 46 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940,” Viado said in a statement on Friday, Jan. 31.

This provision of the law prohibits the harboring of illegal aliens, with violators facing up to 10 years in prison.

Viado said the bureau is coordinating with the Department of Justice to obtain information on the alleged spies arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as those being monitored by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Upon initial checks, the said foreign nationals have regular immigration statuses in the Philippines, adding to the suspicion that they have embedded themselves in society,” the BI head said in his statement.

Authorities arrested alleged Chinese spy Deng Yuanqing, along with two Filipino accomplices, in Makati City on January 17 after seizing spying equipment. Both Deng’s wife and the Chinese government have denied the allegations.

On Thursday, five more Chinese nationals were arrested for allegedly conducting covert surveillance of Philippine Coast Guard and Navy activities in Palawan.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed being “very disturbed” by the alleged surveillance operations targeting the military but noted that there has been no official communication with China yet as investigations continue.