The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has called on the public to report foreigners involved in illegal espionage and other suspicious activities.
This plea follows the recent arrest of six Chinese nationals suspected of espionage, apprehended during joint operations by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting national security, stating that the BI is determined to prevent such “undesirable aliens” from exploiting the country’s hospitality.
‘We are serious in our efforts to stop these undesirable aliens from abusing our hospitality,’ said BI Commissioner Viado in a statement.
Viado disclosed the BI has been investigating the arrested suspected spies and found that they have been embedded in the Philippines for years.
‘Some have been here as early as 2002,’ he said.
The arrested individuals—identified as Deng Yuangqing, Cai Shaohuang, Cheng Hai Tao, Wu Cheng Ting, Wang Yong Yi, and Wu Chin Ren—face charges under the Espionage Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Some of the suspects have been in the Philippines for years, with some as long as since 2002, and held legal residency statuses, including work visas and marriages to Filipina women.
‘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 (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),’ he also said.
The BI continues to investigate the case, highlighting the complex nature of the suspects’ activities and their long-term presence in the country.
