22 10 2024
A bill aimed at updating the country’s 83-year-old espionage law to make it applicable during peacetime has been introduced in the House of Representatives.
Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez confirmed on Monday that he filed House Bill (HB) Nos. 10983 and 10988. These bills propose amendments to Commonwealth Act No. 616, enacted in June 1941, and the espionage provisions in the Revised Penal Code (RPC), which took effect in 1932.
“We must be cautious of these Trojan horses, especially those of our compatriots who betray the nation for foreign interests,” Rodriguez stated. “There is a pressing need to update these laws to address evolving global security threats, technological advancements, and the changing nature of espionage.”
HB No. 10983 seeks to revise RPC’s Article 117 to prohibit espionage during both peacetime and wartime, while HB No. 10988 would expand the scope of espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616 and introduce stricter penalties.
Rodriguez explained that these bills aim to strengthen current laws by enhancing penalties and updating definitions to reflect contemporary security challenges, thereby bolstering the Philippines’ ability to safeguard its national security.
Currently, Commonwealth Act No. 616 limits the application of espionage laws to wartime offenses. However, under HB No. 10983, espionage would be punishable by “prisión correccional” during both peace and war. HB No. 10988 proposes the following penalties for espionage:
Life imprisonment and a fine of at least P2 million
Life imprisonment or a fine of at least P1 million, or both
Up to 30 years’ imprisonment or a fine of at least P500,000, or both
10 to 12 years’ imprisonment or a fine of at least P500,000, or both
Rodriguez urged Congress to prioritize the approval of his bills, particularly in light of concerns from the defense sector regarding espionage and individuals allegedly collaborating with foreign entities.
Concerns over Chinese spies among Filipino citizens gained traction after Alice Guo, the former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, was accused of being a Chinese national. Allegations intensified during a House of Representatives hearing on September 27, when Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Almario presented a video by Al Jazeera. The documentary suggested that Chinese spy She Zhijang funneled funds to Guo, who is suspected of having the true Chinese identity of Guo Hua Ping, for her election campaign in the Philippines.
