Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Wednesday, August 7 renewed his push for the passage of the bill that would update the country’s existing law against espionage. 

Senate Bill No. 73, Estrada said, can help curb the numerous alarming incidents involving the arrest of foreign nationals spying on both military and civilian activities in the Philippines using advanced technologies.

Currently, the senator said the country’s law against espionage still dates back to the World War II era.

“Pinaglumaan na ng panahon ang batas natin laban sa pang-eespiya. Kailangan na rin palawakin natin ang sakop ng batas na ito dahil may mga makabagong pamamaraan na ng paniniktik gaya ng electronic o cyber means na hindi saklaw ng antiquated na Commonwealth Act No. 616 (Our anti-espionage law has become outdated. We also need to expand the scope of this law because there are modern methods of espionage such as electronic or cyber means that are not covered by the antiquated Commonwealth Act No. 616),” Estrada said.

Aside from Estrada, Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel Zubiri also filed separate bills that seek to overhaul the country’s outdated espionage law.

The proposals all aim to modernize the framework to address espionage in the digital age.

“Considering the antiquated nature of our espionage laws — which were approved more than eight decades ago, the immense changes in the national defense and security landscape since then, and the continuing geopolitical tensions in the region, today is an opportune time to revisit pertinent policies and introduce appropriate amendments,” said the chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense.

Estrada filed the measure during the 19th Congress but it failed to advance due to lack of counterpart measure from the House of Representatives.

SB No. 73 proposes tougher penalties, including life imprisonment without the benefit of parole and fines of up to P50 million. 

The measure also seeks stricter penalties against conspiracy, aiding and abetting, harboring offenders, and acts of interference or destruction targeting national defense and security operations. 

It also mandates the classification and safeguarding of sensitive information, judicially supervised surveillance of suspects, and forfeiture of materials used in espionage activities. 

The proposed law would apply extraterritorially, ensuring accountability for both Filipino citizens and foreign nationals regardless of where the offense is committed.

Under the bill, foreigners found guilty of any offense under the law will, in addition to serving their sentence, be immediately deported after imprisonment and permanently barred from reentering the country.

Moreover, the bill also imposes perpetual disqualification from public office and the maximum penalty on any government official or employee found guilty of engaging in spying activities. 

“This bill aims to close the glaring gaps in our current legal framework and respond to the evolving threats brought about by cyber technologies and modern warfare tactics,” he said.

“Espionage is no longer confined to physical spaces. With the rise of cyber and digital platforms, sensitive information can be stolen without crossing borders. We need a law that is comprehensive, future-ready, and strongly deterrent,” the lawmaker stressed.