China arrests 3 Filipinos for spying

China on Thursday, April 3, confirmed that it arrested three Filipinos after they were accused of spying for the Philippine intelligence agency.

- By JOSEPH PEDRAJAS

Guo Jiakun, spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said in a press conference that the arrest of the said individuals, who the Chinese embassy in Manila confirmed as residents of Palawan, came after the Philippines supposedly "concocted a series of so-called Chinese spy cases."

Both Guo and the embassy did not provide the identity of the arrested Filipinos. But according to China's state-run media Global Times, they were identified as David Servanez, Albert Endencia and Nathalie Plizardo.

Servanez, according to the Global Times, is a long-term resident of China.

He was detained after he was found repeatedly loitering near military facilities, prompting Chinese authorities to raise suspicions.

Endencia and Plizardo were also alleged to be working alongside Servanez for a member of "the Philippine intelligence service," added the Chinese media.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said it was already informed by the Chinese government about the arrest of the three Filipinos.

Ensure due process, PH urges China

DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said that protecting the rights and the interests of the arrested Filipinos remains the prime priority of the Philippine government.