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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace alarmed over alleged Chinese spying near Comelec

Palace alarmed over alleged Chinese spying near Comelec

Published Apr 30, 2025 06:03 am

At A Glance

  • Castro said the matter is being treated as a national security concern.

Malacañang has expressed alarm following the arrest of a Chinese national allegedly carrying surveillance equipment near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila.

spy (AI-generated/Microsoft Copilot)
(AI-generated/Microsoft Copilot)

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested the male suspect and confiscated spy devices from his vehicle parked outside the Comelec main office on April 29.

In her press briefing on Wednesday, April 30, the Palace Press Officer said the matter is being treated as a national security concern.

"That is an issue of national security, so we will just leave it at that," she said.

"We will just have an investigation—thorough investigation—on that matter," she added.

Castro admitted that the development was alarming.

"It’s quite alarming," she said.

"And the President has this trust on the intelligence agents that need the operation. So, we will just have to wait for the final investigation on that matter," she added.

Asked whether President Marcos has issued instructions to summon Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian in light of the incident, the Palace said it would defer the matter to the Department of National Defense (DND).

The Palace has yet to comment on whether the arrest may be related to earlier reports of possible foreign interference in the 2025 midterm elections.

The suspect, identified as Tak Hail Lao, was brought in for questioning as authorities investigate the possible intent and implications of the incident, especially with the national elections approaching.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday that the 47-year-old Chinese national arrived in the country only last April 25. He has no derogatory record, and this was his first time traveling to the Philippines.

This was not the first time alleged Chinese spies were arrested in Manila. In February, the NBI arrested three Filipinos and two Chinese nationals for supposedly spying on Malacañan, Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Crame, Villamor Airbase, and the United States Embassy.

The government has also launched an investigation into the donations made to the Philippine National Police (PNP) by Chinese nationals linked to espionage activities.

Related Tags

claire castro Chinese spy PH-China COMELEC
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