Pinoys Accused of Spying in China to Get Assistance

All necessary assistance will be provided to the three Filipinos arrested in China over alleged spying charges, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

- — With Mark Ernest Villeza, Bella Cariaso

"The Department has been formally made aware of the allegations against the three Filipinos who are currently detained in China," it said in a statement.

The DFA noted that "protecting the rights and interests of the said Filipinos remains the prime priority for the Philippine government."

"The Philippine consulate general in Guangzhou is providing all necessary assistance, including appropriate legal support, for the said Filipinos," it noted.

The DFA has asked the Chinese government to ensure that the allegations are tried with due process and with full respect for the rights of the Filipinos in accordance with domestic law and the Philippines-China Consular Agreement.

Chinese state media Global Times reported on Thursday that state security authorities have allegedly uncovered a case of Filipino espionage and has arrested three suspected spies.

"The investigation revealed that Philippine intelligence agencies have long been focused on gathering information about China's military deployments," the report said.