Filipinos Detained in China for ‘Espionage’ are Law-Abiding Civilians: NSC

The Philippines' National Security Council (NSC) has raised concern over the arrest of three Filipinos in China for alleged espionage, calling them ordinary citizens with no ties to intelligence work.

“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.

According to Malaya, the three were former scholars under the Hainan Government Scholarship Program, a joint initiative established under a sisterhood agreement between Hainan and Palawan. He stressed that their stay in China had been sanctioned and organized by Chinese authorities for academic purposes.

Chinese state media recently released a video showing edited footage of the three Filipinos allegedly confessing to espionage. Malaya criticized the video, saying it “raises more questions than answers.” He pointed out that one of the individuals, while expressing regret, appeared to speak favorably of China — an unusual element that he said suggests the statement may have been coerced.

“There was also mention of a ‘Philippine Intelligence Agency’ or ‘Philippine Spy Intelligence Services,’ which is a non-existing government agency,” he added. “The ‘confessions’ appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely.”

Malaya said their detention could be interpreted as a response to recent “legitimate arrests” of Chinese agents and their accomplices in the Philippines.

While the Department of Foreign Affairs is leading the response to the incident, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter and said it would defer to diplomatic channels.

The Philippine government, Malaya said, is now working to ensure the safety and legal rights of the three detained citizens.

“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 Filipinos to remain watchful, stating: “Let us stand united in our commitment to truth, justice, and adherence to international law while prioritizing the well-being of our citizens abroad.”