The Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD) , Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement —People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reform (PADER), Alyansa ng Bayan para sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), Isang Bansang Pilipinas (IBP) and the Kalipunan ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KAMPIL) have condemned the arrest of three Filipinos in China, who have been charged with espionage.
The groups are calling the move a propaganda tactic designed to divert attention from the ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
Dr. Jose Antonio "Ka Pep" Goitia, ABP's first nominee and Chairman Emeritus of both ABKD and FDNY Movement, led the condemnation.
He described the arrests as a blatant act of bullying by the Chinese government, accusing Beijing of using the incident to create a diversion from the escalating tensions in the region over territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The three individuals—David Servanez, Albert Endencia, and Natalie Plizardo—were arrested in China under allegations of spying for the Philippine government.
Goitia insists that these accusations are unfounded, asserting that the three were law-abiding Filipino citizens who had been vetted by the Chinese government as recipients of a scholarship established under the sisterhood agreement between the provinces of Palawan and Hainan.
The groups expressed concern over the validity of the confessions made by the arrested individuals, suggesting that the statements were likely coerced under duress.
They pointed to the mention of a "Philippines Intelligence Agency" in the confession—a government entity that does not exist in the Philippines—suggesting that the confessions were fabricated.
“These are baseless and false claims, manufactured as part of a smear campaign following the recent arrest of Chinese spies by Philippine authorities,” Goitia remarked.
“This is nothing more than a calculated act of retaliation aimed at silencing the Philippines in regional discussions, especially in relation to the West Philippine Sea.”
The three organizations are also calling for due process and the immediate release of the Filipinos, demanding that their rights be respected in accordance with international law.
Goitia urged Filipinos to remain vigilant and stand firm in defense of the country's sovereignty, especially as tensions with China continue to mount.
“They arrest our people, spread propaganda, and try to manipulate public opinion. This is an attempt to undermine our national dignity and assert false narratives,” he added.
The groups came to the defense of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela, who has faced criticism from former Press Attache Ado Paglinawan.
Paglinawan had accused Tarriela and other national security officials of being unduly influenced by the United States, questioning the legitimacy of Philippine maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
Goitia strongly rejected these claims, describing them as not only irresponsible but damaging to the nation's security.
“Commodore Tarriela is a true Filipino hero, one of the few officials willing to publicly defend our sovereignty,” Goitia asserted.
He further challenged Paglinawan to present evidence for his claims during the upcoming Tri-Committee hearing on the West Philippine Sea scheduled for next week.
“We stand firmly behind Commodore Tarriela,” Goitia said. “We will continue to offer our public support and take to the streets if necessary to defend our sovereignty and integrity.”
The groups also vowed to remain actively engaged in the ongoing national discourse on the West Philippine Sea.