THE Bureau of Immigration yesterday called for “heightened vigilance” amid the recent arrests of alleged Chinese spies surveilling critical civilian and military facilities, including those associated with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said their investigation showed the alleged Chinese spies have “embedded” themselves in the local communities as they have all been staying in the country for decades.
“Some have been here as early as 2002. They have been holding legal statuses, and have lived in the country for a long time before they were found to be doing suspicious activities by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Viado said.
Without elaborating, he said some of those arrested had working visas linked to companies in San Juan and Manila, while others were married to Filipinas.
Six Chinese and two Filipinos have been apprehended recently for allegedly spying on civilian and military camps, including naval and air bases in Palawan where Philippine Navy ships and Coast Guard vessels stage patrols and conduct resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea and the Kalayaan Island Group.
Charges were already filed before a Makati court against one of the Chinese and their two Filipino cohorts.
Viado urged the public to report to authorities any suspicious activities of foreign nationals that may be detrimental to national security
“We are serious in our efforts to stop these undesirable aliens from abusing our hospitality,” he said, adding the BI is working closely with the Department of Justice, NBI, and the AFP to gather more information about the alleged spies.