BI to file cases against coddlers of foreign spies amid national security threats

DAVAO CITY – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned individuals and groups aiding foreign spies in the country that they will face legal action for violating Philippine laws.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated on Friday that the agency is working closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to gather intelligence on foreign nationals arrested for espionage, as well as those under military surveillance.

According to Viado, initial checks revealed that the foreign nationals have regular immigration status in the Philippines, raising concerns that they have successfully integrated into society while allegedly conducting espionage activities.

“Should we confirm that there are individuals—whether Filipinos or foreign nationals—who 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.

The BI has pledged to work with the DOJ to prosecute not only the spies but also those who facilitated their operations, ensuring they face the full extent of Philippine laws.

Viado’s statement follows the arrest of five Chinese nationals, whom the NBI and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accused of conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in the country.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. presented the arrested suspects to the media, revealing that they had claimed to be members of Qiaoxing Volunteer Group of the Philippines and the Philippine-China Association of Promotion of Peace and Friendship, Inc.

The suspects reportedly posed as seafood buyers, particularly lobsters, to establish relationships with locals and even befriended local officials to avoid suspicion.

Authorities apprehended them in a series of operations from January 24 to 25 in Palawan, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.he crackdown on foreign spies aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to safeguard national security and sovereignty. The arrests and ongoing investigations highlight the growing concern over foreign intelligence operations that could compromise Philippine interests.

With the BI, NBI, and AFP ramping up efforts to identify and neutralize potential threats, authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, particularly those involving foreign nationals engaging in covert intelligence operations under the guise of civilian activities.

The BI reiterated that those found harboring or assisting spies will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, emphasizing that espionage and acts that threaten national security will not be tolerated.