The defense and military establishments have asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent a bill seeking to strengthen the country’s anti-espionage law.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the request was raised during a command conference presided over by Marcos at the Armed Forces of the Philippines general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo last Tuesday afternoon.
“There was a request to the President today to certify it, and the (anti) foreign interference and malign influence act (as urgent),” Teodoro told reporters.
Under the prevailing Commonwealth Act No. 616, espionage is punishable only during wartime.
Asked if the President would certify the proposed measure as urgent, Teodoro said: “He mentioned it so we can take it as that; he agreed.”
On whether the bill would be included among the President’s priority measures during his State of the Nation Address later this month, Teodoro said: “I don’t want to preempt it.”
“We (DND and AFP) really think it’s necessary,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro said those engaged in espionage have been able to evade prosecution because “our criminal law is strictly construed against the state.”
“So what’s happening is that we are just disrupting; these people are getting away with it. Nevertheless, our disruption operations are continuing against China’s illegal activities,” he said.
In March, Teodoro described China’s espionage operations in the country as “worrisome.” He issued the statement after authorities apprehended three alleged spies in the DND, Navy, and Coast Guard who were allegedly selling sensitive documents to China.
Teodoro has said he hopes anti-espionage bills pending in Congress will be consolidated and “enacted as soon as possible” to allow the prosecution of spies and those who enable espionage activities.