For Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the government should already anticipate the presence of Chinese spies in the country considering the tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

"Dapat maging ano na rin tayo, dapat iexpect na rin natin yan dahil alam naman natin meron tayong alitan sa [WPS] at alam natin na merong mga bansa na gustong makakuha ng mas marami pang impormasyon tungkol sa atin para alam nila kung ano ang gagawin nila (We should also be prepared and expect this because we know we have disputes in the WPS, and we know there are countries that want to gather more information about us so they know what actions to take)," he said in an interview on Usapang Senado over DWIZ.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested five Chinese nationals for allegedly conducting video surveillance of naval activities and facilities in the country. Authorities seized from the group various devices including drones and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

This is on top of the previously arrested Chinese national along with his suspected Filipino cohorts.

Gatchalian said that the goverment must improve its intelligence network. 

At any rate, he praised the NBI for the arrest of the individuals.

"Ako binibigyan kong pugay yung NBI dahil sa kanilang intelligence ay nahuli nila ito, namanmanan nila at nahuli nila at talagang caught in the act (I commend the NBI for their intelligence information, as they were able to monitor and catch the person in the act)," he said.

"Pero dapat lawakan pa natin yung ating intelligence capability dahil tingin ko marami pang ganito dito sa ating bansa (But we need to further expand our intelligence capabilities because I believe there are still many like this in our country)," he added.

President Marcos believes that Chinese sleeper cells or spies are indeed in the Philippines.

According to the President, the act of pointing cameras at vital institutions is disturbing.

Gatchalian noted that due to the presence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) before, foreign workers, particularly Chinese, have been entering the country with ease.

"Nung panahon ng POGO, kung ikaw ay rehistrado ka lang sa isang POGO, pwede ka na kumuha ng work permit at pwede ka na pumunta sa Pilipinas. At hindi na natin na mamonitor kung yung taong yun ay nasa POGO talaga o nasa labas (During the POGO era, if you were registered with a POGO, you could obtain a work permit and travel to the Philippines. We couldn't monitor whether that person was actually working in a POGO or outside of it)," he explained.

With the ban on POGOs, Gatchalian says that foreigners who are up to no good will have a hard time entering the Philippines.