Ikinaalarma ng National Security Council (NSC) ang pagkakaaresto sa tatlong Pilipino sa China matapos umano silang akusahang espiya sa naturang bansa.
Sa pahayag na inilabas ng NSC nitong Sabado, Abril 5, 2025, iginiit nilang naging iskolar noon ng Hainan Government Scholarship ang tatlong akusado. Ang naturang scholarship ay parte umano ng kasunduan ng Palawan at Hainan para sa 50 iskolar na mag-aaral sa Hainan National University.
"The National Security Council is alarmed over charges of espionage made by People's Republic of China against three Filipinos arrested within Chinese territory," anang NSC.
"It should be noted that the arrested Filipinos are former recipients of the Hainan Government Scholarship Program established under the sisterhood agreement between the provinces of Hainan and Palawan which provides scholarships for 50 scholars from Palawan at the Hainan National University. They are ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training who merely went to China at the invitation of the Chinese government and were vetted and screened by the Chinese government prior to their arrival there," anila.
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Pinuna rin ng NSC ang umano'y edited at gawa-gawa umanong video na inilabas ng Chinese media kung saan iginiit ng mga Pinoy ang umano'y "Philippine Intelligence Agency" at "Philippine Spy," na pawang hindi umano nag-eexist sa bansa.
"Significantly, the edited video released by Chinese media showing alleged ‘confessions’ by the arrested Filipinos raises more questions than answers. A portion of one of the Filipino's statements, while expressing regret, also notably portrayed China in a positive light. There was also mention of a ‘Philippine Intelligence Agency,’ or ‘Philippine Spy,’ appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not merely made freely," sad ng NSC.
Iginiit din ng NSC na posibleng pakana umano ito ng China matapos ang naging magkakasunod na pag-aresto sa ilang Chinese nationals na bansa kaugnay ng kampanya kontra ilegal na operasyon ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).
"Given the limited information released by Chinese media, the arrests can be seen as a retaliation for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices by Philippine law enforcement and counter-intelligence agencies in recent months," anang Security Council.
Samantala, siniguro naman ng National Security Council na patuloy silang makikipag-ugnayan sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at sa embahada ng Pilipinas sa Beijing, China upang matulungan ang mga inaakusahang Pilipino.
