The National Security Council has urged Congress to pass amendments and strengthen existing espionage laws. This comes after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested suspected Chinese spy Deng Yuanqing in Makati City on Monday, January 20.
Deng and two Filipino accomplices were apprehended for scanning “critical infrastructure” and maps at several locations, including military camps and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites — which the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has lent to United States forces for training, transit, accommodation, and other activities.
“We urge Congress to prioritize the passage of the amendments to the Espionage Act as well as the Countering Foreign Interference and Malign Influence bill,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement released on Tuesday, January 21. “Strengthening our legal framework is essential to effectively address evolving security threats and to ensure that those who seek to compromise our national security will face the full force of the law.”
In his statement in relation to Deng’s arrest, Año commended the AFP and NBI “for their vigilance and effective operations.” He said, “The arrest of these individuals is a stark reminder of the persistent threats posed by foreign interference and malign influence to the country.”

He added that the recent apprehensions highlight the need for “continuous vigilance, strengthened coordination among government agencies, and proactive measures to fortify our national security framework.”
Wartime Rules Inadequate Against New Espionage Threats
The Espionage Act was enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines — the legislative branch of the Commonwealth government — in 1941 when the islands were still American territory and the Second World War was raging.
As such, most of the legislation’s provisions only apply during times of war. For example, Sections 11 to 14 prohibit tampering with and causing damage to war and national defense material, including arms, ammunition, livestock, food, and fuel. The law also prohibits acts of espionage committed against the United States.
The Revised Penal Code (RPC), which took effect in 1932, also punishes espionage with six months and one day to six years of imprisonment. Like that of the Espionage Act, the RPC’s definition of espionage in Article 117 is limited to unlawfully obtaining confidential information relating to national defense and/or disclosing said information to a representative of a foreign nation.
In 2023, Senator Jinggoy Estrada introduced a bill seeking to expand the coverage of espionage, citing “major changes in the national defense and security landscape” since the enactment of existing espionage laws. Proposed amendments include heavier penalties and the consideration of newer technologies like drones as tools for espionage.
Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez filed similar bills in October 2024, seeking to amend both the Espionage Act and Article 117 of the RPC, prompted by investigations into former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s involvement with a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firm in Tarlac and allegations that she is a Chinese spy.
“We have to be wary of these Trojan horses, especially our compatriots who sell their souls and services to foreign interests,” Rodriguez explained. “There is a need to review these laws and amend the same to make them adapt to the situation in light of evolving global security threats, technological advancements, and the changing nature of espionage activities.”