A bill by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will finally strengthen and modernize the Philippines’ outdated laws – one dating back to 1941 – against espionage and other offenses against national security.
Lacson’s Senate Bill 33, the “New Anti-Espionage Act,” increases penalties for such offenses, and covers new technologies, as well as activities by foreign jurisdictions that can interfere with our government affairs.
It also allows the surveillance of suspects and interception and recording of communications after court order from the Court of Appeals.
“Recent technological advancements, along with the potential involvement of foreign jurisdictions in our country’s political and governmental affairs, have exposed significant gaps in Commonwealth Act No. 616 and Article 117 of the Revised Penal Code. These shortcomings underscore the urgent need to amend and modernize these laws,” Lacson said in his bill.
“This measure aims to strengthen the law by updating the penalties for the punishable acts. Particularly, the measure imposes higher penalties upon erring public officials, employees and foreigners. The measure also provides for the extraterritorial application of the law. It likewise penalizes activities by foreign jurisdictions that could interfere with the political and government affairs of the country,” he added.
In Filipino: Panukala ni Ping Lacson, Palalakasin at Ia-Update ang Batas vs Pag-Eespiya at Paglabag sa Pambasang Seguridad
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The bill expands the definition of espionage to include “physical, electronic, cyber, or any other means, which causes or tends to cause injury to the Philippines or gives or tends to give advantage to a state, nation, entity, or individual, whether foreign or domestic.”
Lacson noted that in April 2025, a Chinese was arrested near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office. Seized from him was an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher, which can intercept mobile phone traffic and track location data.
From January to March 2025, five arrests were made for espionage activities in various parts of the country. In one of the arrests, the perpetrators were caught using a vehicle with LiDar (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor and a concealed Triple Camera Device, as well as a GNSS-RTK (Global Navigational Satellite System Real-Time Kinematics). The vehicle, which was capable of topographic mapping to the accuracy of centimeter level, had been roving around different critical infrastructures in Luzon since December 2024.
In another case, authorities arrested a group supposedly fishing but were conducting spying activities with solar-powered and remotely operated CCTV, as well as aerial drones that took aerial images of military facilities in Palawan.
From 2022 to 2024, the Philippine Navy recovered five underwater drones in different parts of the country. These submersible drones are a “deploy-and-forget” type of underwater vessel that can be controlled from anywhere once they are launched. Investigation showed they had various sensors that can send data through satellite communications.
In May 2024, the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested a Chinese individual for forcing a Filipino to deliver to his house and move to vital installations and public places a “Stingray” cell site simulator, that can be used to eavesdrop or even impersonate a party in a call.
“These incidents point to a larger, more concerning pattern: a deliberate and sophisticated use of modern tools to conduct espionage and interference—threats that may originate from both foreign and domestic sources,” Lacson said.
Under the bill, harsher penalties await erring public officials, employees and foreigners involved in espionage, including:
* Filipinos who commit acts penalized under the bill outside Philippine territory;
* Individuals physically outside the country but commit the crimes covered by the bill;
* Individuals who are outside the Philippines but commit crimes covered in the bill against Philippine officials, their representatives, staff, agent, or envoy; and
* Individuals who may be outside the Philippines but commit said crimes directly against the Philippine government or its agent.
For those who are not Philippine citizens, the Philippines shall exercise jurisdiction only when the individual enters or is inside the territory of the Philippines. In the absence of any request for extradition, the National Security Council shall refer the case to the Bureau of Immigration for deportation or to the Department of Justice for prosecution, “as if the act constituting the offense had been committed in the Philippines.”
The bill metes life imprisonment without parole and a fine from P5 to 20 million to those who engage and conspire to engage in espionage and interference in our internal affairs – including those who aid and abet them.
A government official or employee found guilty of violating the measure faces absolute perpetual disqualification from any public office, and the maximum penalty under the bill.
Foreigners found guilty of violating the measure shall be deported immediately after serving their sentence. They will be permanently barred from entering the country.
Meanwhile, the National Security Council (NSC) may issue an Access Blocking Order directing internet access service providers to take reasonable steps to disable access by end-users in the Philippines to online publications that it deems will prejudice national or public security, negatively impact public health, safety, or finances, affect diplomatic relations, incite enmity among influential groups, undermine public confidence in authorities, or influence the outcome of elections or referendums.
An internet access service provider that does not comply with any access blocking order shall be fined P1 million each day during which any part of that order is not fully complied with, up to a total of P500 million.
Surveillance, Interception of Suspects
A duly authorized military personnel, law enforcement agent, or intelligence officer may secretly wiretap, intercept, record or collect private messages of any person charged or suspected of committing any of the offenses under this Act – after meeting various requirements and upon written order of the Court of Appeals.
AMLC:
The bill adds espionage and interference, in any form, to the list of unlawful activities subject to the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to conduct financial investigation, freezing of accounts, and forfeiture of assets.
Also, the AMLC is authorized to inquire into or examine deposits and investments suspected of any of the crimes defined and penalized under the provisions of this Act with any banking institution or non-bank financial institution and their subsidiaries and affiliates without a court order.
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Panukala ni Ping Lacson, Palalakasin at Ia-Update ang Batas vs Pag-Eespiya at Paglabag sa Pambasang Seguridad
Sa wakas, mapapalakas at ma-a-update na rin ang mga batas natin laban sa pag-eespiya at iba pang paglabag sa ating pambansang seguridad – kung maisasabatas ang bagong panukalang ihinain ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.
Ang Senate Bill 33 o “New Anti-Espionage Act” ni Lacson ay may mas mabigat na parusa para sa mga aktong ito – at sakop pa nito ang mga bagong teknolohiya at galaw ng mga dayuhan na maaaring makialam sa gawain ng ating pamahalaan.
Pinahihintulutan din ng panukala ang surveillance sa mga suspek at ang pag-record ng komunikasyon, kung may court order mula sa Court of Appeals.
“Recent technological advancements, along with the potential involvement of foreign jurisdictions in our country’s political and governmental affairs, have exposed significant gaps in Commonwealth Act No. 616 and Article 117 of the Revised Penal Code. These shortcomings underscore the urgent need to amend and modernize these laws,” ani Lacson sa kanyang panukala.
“This measure aims to strengthen the law by updating the penalties for the punishable acts. Particularly, the measure imposes higher penalties upon erring public officials, employees and foreigners. The measure also provides for the extraterritorial application of the law. It likewise penalizes activities by foreign jurisdictions that could interfere with the political and government affairs of the country,” dagdag niya.
Sa panukala ni Lacson, lumawak ang depinisyon ng espionage at sakop nito ang pisikal, electronic, cyber o anumang paraan na maaaring makasira sa Pilipinas o makabigay ng lamang sa ibang estado o bansa.
Ani Lacson, noong Abril 2025, naaresto ang isang Tsino malapit sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa Manila. Nakuha sa kanya ang international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher, na maaaring mag-intercept ng mobile phone traffic at mag-track ng location data.
Mula Enero hanggang Marso 2025, limang pag-aresto ang nangyari na may kinalaman sa pag-espiya. Sa isang pag-aresto, nahuli ang pinaghihinalaan na may sasakyang may LiDar (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor, Triple Camera Device, at GNSS-RTK (Global Navigational Satellite System Real-Time Kinematics). Ang sasakyan ay nakapunta na sa iba’t ibang “critical infrastructures” sa Luzon mula pang Disyembre 2024.
Sa isa pang kaso, nahuli ang isang grupong nangingisda diumano, pero nag-eespiya pala gamit ang solar-powered at remotely operated na CCTV, at aerial drones na ginamit para kuhanan ang military facilities sa Palawan.
Mula 2022 hanggang 2024, narekober ng Philippine Navy ang limang underwater drones na “deploy-and-forget” at kayang mag-send ng data gamit ang satellite communications.
Noon namang Mayo 2024, nahuli ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang Tsino na namilit sa isang Pilipino na dalhin sa kanyang bahay at sa iba’t ibang “vital installations and public places” ang “Stingray” cell site simulator na maaaring gamitin para maniktik at gayahin ang boses ng ibang tao.
“These incidents point to a larger, more concerning pattern: a deliberate and sophisticated use of modern tools to conduct espionage and interference—threats that may originate from both foreign and domestic sources,” ani Lacson.
Sa panukala ni Lacson, mas mabigat na parusa ang ipapataw sa mga opisyal at empleyado ng gobyerno, at pati sa dayuhan na sangkot sa pang-eespiya, kabilang ang:
* Pilipinong gumawa ng pang-eespiya sa labas ng Pilipinas;
* Mga nasa labas ng bansa pero ginawa ang krimen na sakop ng panukala;
* Mga nasa labas ng Pilipinas pero gumawa ng pang-eespiya laban sa opisyal ng Pilipinas, at kanilang kinatawan, staff, at ahente;
* Mga nasa labas ng Pilipinas pero ginawa ang pag-eespiya laban sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas.
Ang mga dayuhan ay babagsak sa hurisdiksyon ng Pilipinas kung nasa loob na sila ng bansa. Kung walang extradition request laban sa kanila, ire-refer ang kaso sa Bureau of Immigration para sa deportation, o sa Department of Justice para kasuhan “as if the act constituting the offense had been committed in the Philippines.”
Habang buhay na pagkulong na walang parole, at multang P5 hanggang 20 milyon ang parusa sa mga sangkot sa pag-espiya at sa interference o pakikialam sa ating internal affairs – at kasama dito ang mga tumulong sa kanila.
Ang mga taga-gobyerno na mahahatulan sa pag-espiya ay haharap sa pagkulong at multa – at habang buhay na ring hindi na maaaring magkaroon ng pwesto sa gobyerno.
Ang mga dayuhang mahahatulan ay ide-deported matapos kumpletuhin ang kanilang sentensya – at permanente silang hindi na maaaring pumasok sa Pilipinas.
Samantala, ang National Security Council (NSC) ay maaaring mag-issue ng Access Blocking Order para tiyaking hindi ma-access ang online publications na maaaring magdulot ng “prejudice” sa pambansa at pampublikong seguridad, pampublikong kalusugan at kaligtasan; o bawasan ang kumpiyansa ng publiko sa awtoridad, o impluwensiyahan ang resulta ng halalan.
Ang internet access service provider na hindi susunod sa access blocking order ay mumultahan ng P1 milyon kada araw na hindi nito susundan ang order – hanggang umabot ang multa sa P500 milyon.
Surveillance at Interception ng Suspects:
Ang awtorisadong taga-militar, tagapagpatupad ng batas, o intelligence officer ay maaaring mag-wiretap, intercept o mag-record ng pribadong mensahe kung pumasa sa mga safeguards at kung may written order mula sa Court of Appeals.
AMLC:
Sa panukala ni Lacson, kasama na ang espionage at interference sa mga aktibidad na sakop ng Anti-Money Laundering Council para gumawa ng financial investigation, freezing of accounts, at forfeiture of assets.
Maaari ring busisiin ng AMLC ang deposits at investments na pinaghihinalaang konektado sa pag-eespiya.
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