MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has called on China to allow Philippine lawyers to contact three Filipinos arrested late last year for alleged spying.
Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said they have already arranged lawyers for the three Filipinos currently detained in an undisclosed location, while he maintained that they are not spies.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it has not received any official reports on the arrest of alleged Filipino spies in China.
In response to questions regarding an alleged handler of the detained Filipino, who is purportedly associated with the AFP’s Intelligence Service, AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said, “I cannot proclaim those particular statements. And we have yet to receive official reports that those are the claims of this particular country or any institutions or agency.”
The National Security Council has earlier raised questions over the charges of espionage against the Filipinos, claiming that it might be a “retaliation” after alleged Chinese spies were arrested in the Philippines.
“A portion of one of the Filipino’s statement, while expressing regret, also notably portrayed China in a positive light. There was also mention of a ‘Philippine Intelligence Agency’ or ‘Philippine Spy Intelligence Services’ which is a non-existing government agency,” NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.
“The ‘confessions’ appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely,” he added.
Chinese state media Global Times reported about the arrest of the three Filipinos last week. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Chinese authorities will “strictly handle” the case./PN
