A senior immigration official said on Sunday that the apprehended foreign intelligence operatives had been living in the Philippines for decades, with some reportedly here since 2002.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that they have “seemingly embedded themselves in society.”
“Some have been here as early as 2002,” said Viado, pointing out that they had maintained legal statuses prior to their arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to stop their questionable activities.
The immigration chief refrained from offering additional details but stressed that some of the alleged Chinese spies possess working visas for companies located in San Juan and Manila. Several of the other apprehended spies have also wed Filipinas, therefore further assimilating into local populations.
The BI is encouraging citizens to inform them and other authorities about any suspicious activities involving foreign nationals that may pose a threat to national security.
“We are serious in our efforts to stop these undesirable aliens from abusing our hospitality,” said Viado. BI is closely working with the Department of Justice (DOJ), NBI, and the AFP to collate information about the suspects.
Since January, Philippine authorities have apprehended espionage suspects. Deng Yuanqing and two Filipino accomplices were arrested in Makati City on January 17.. They were accused of mapping military locations and crucial infrastructure.
Five additional Chinese nationals—Cai Shaohuang, Cheng Hai Tao, Wu Cheng Ting, Wang Yong Yi, and Wu Chin Ren—were detained in Palawan and Manila on January 24–25. They were accused of spying on the Philippine navy and coast guard stations.
These arrests raise worries about foreign espionage, especially at critical military locations, the government said.
