National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner (both seated) on Thursday (Jan. 30, 2025) present the five alleged Chinese spies arrested during operations in various locations from Jan. 24 to 25. Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on Friday (Jan. 31) said they are ready to file cases against individuals who are protecting foreign spies. (PNA photo by Ben Pulta)
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned sternly against individuals who aid or conceal foreign spies in the country, emphasizing that legal action will be taken against them for violating Philippine laws.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated on Friday that the agency is actively coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to track down foreign operatives who may be embedded in Philippine society.
Viado confirmed that initial investigations revealed that the arrested foreign nationals held regular immigration status, raising suspicions about how deeply they integrated into local communities.
“If we confirm that individuals—whether Filipinos or foreign nationals—have hidden 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 declared.
Viado stressed that the BI remains committed to ensuring that all individuals involved face legal consequences. He assured the DOJ that the agency would pursue cases against foreign operatives and their local accomplices, ensuring they were held accountable to the fullest extent of Philippine law.
This crackdown is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect national sovereignty and defend the country from foreign intelligence threats.
Viado’s warning comes a day after NBI Director Jaime Santiago and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. presented five Chinese nationals to the media. These individuals were arrested for allegedly conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in strategic locations nationwide.
Santiago revealed that the suspects posed as civic volunteers and seafood traders to blend into local communities. They were reportedly affiliated with the Qiaoxing Volunteer Group of the Philippines and the Philippine-China Association for the Promotion of Peace and Friendship, Inc.—organizations that may have served as cover identities for their intelligence-gathering activities.
Authorities noted that the suspects befriended local officials and maintained a presence in key areas, particularly in Palawan—a province with high geopolitical significance due to its proximity to the West Philippine Sea.
The arrests followed a series of pursuit operations conducted between January 24 and 25 in multiple locations, including Palawan, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. These operations underscore the government’s heightened vigilance against security threats posed by foreign intelligence networks.
The BI, alongside national security agencies, is reinforcing border control measures and intelligence monitoring to detect and deter potential foreign operatives. Authorities are also reviewing immigration policies to prevent similar infiltration attempts in the future.
Viado urged the public to report suspicious foreign activities, reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance policy against espionage and foreign interference.
“We will not allow local or foreign individuals to undermine our national security. Those who shield or assist foreign spies will be held accountable,” Viado warned.
