Lacson Reiterates Need for Stricter Penalties vs Espionage Amid Recent Espionage Activities

Recent foreign espionage activities targeting the Philippines’ state secrets underscore the need for stricter penalties, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson emphasized on Thursday.

Lacson said that while he has filed a bill to address the issue as early as last July, the proposed measure is still languishing at the committee level.

“It was one of the first bills I filed in the 20th Congress, to update our anti-espionage law. Our current law is a Commonwealth Act dating back to 1941, whose penalties are too light. So I say we need to strengthen the law to address modern-day threats,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZRH radio.

“Our world has changed, and spying is detrimental to our national security,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Kailangan ng Mas Mahigpit na Parusa vs Pag-Eespiya Kasunod ng Kamakailang Espionage Activities

Senate Bill 33, authored by Lacson, seeks to strengthen and modernize our anti-espionage laws by increasing penalties for such offenses and covering new technologies.

It metes life imprisonment without parole and fines ranging from P5 million to P20 million to those who engage and conspire to engage in espionage and interference in our internal affairs – including those who aid and abet them.

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As of March 2026, however, it is still pending in the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.

Lacson noted that other countries impose much harsher penalties on espionage, including execution in China.

He recalled that under U.S. anti-espionage laws, he personally faced scrutiny for receiving an email from Leandro Aragoncillo, who was charged with espionage. His email was monitored, and his visa was canceled at the time.

“That’s how strict other countries act against espionage,” he said.

Last week, the National Security Council confirmed that three Filipino nationals were detained over alleged espionage activities believed to be linked to foreign intelligence operating in the Philippines, and that the suspects have confessed and are cooperating with authorities, Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

Officials also revealed that the individuals were recruited through covert channels and used digital platforms to relay information as part of the espionage network being investigated.

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Lacson: Kailangan ng Mas Mahigpit na Parusa vs Pag-Eespiya Kasunod ng Kamakailang Espionage Activities

Muling itinampok ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes na kinakailangan ang mas mahigpit na parusa laban sa espionage, kasunod ng mga kamakailang aktibidad ng dayuhang espionage na tumatarget sa mga lihim ng estado ng Pilipinas.

Nababahala si Lacson na bagama’t naghain na siya ng panukalang batas upang tugunan ang isyu noong Hulyo 2025 pa, nananatili pa rin itong nakabinbin sa antas ng komite.

“Yan ang isa sa mga unang bill na finile ko, ang updating our anti-espionage law. Ang ating batas sa espionage Commonwealth Act pa yan, ang parusa pitik sa ilong. So sabi ko palakasin natin kasi masyadong maliit ang mundo di tulad dati na wala tayong communication,” aniya sa panayam sa DZRH radio.

“Ngayon maliit na ang mundo. At ang pagpapadala ng spies, detrimental yan sa security ng bansa,” dagdag niya.

Ang Senate Bill 33 na inihain ni Lacson ay naglalayong palakasin at i-modernize ang ating batas laban sa espionage sa pamamagitan ng pagtaas ng parusa at pagsaklaw sa mga bagong teknolohiya.

Nagtatakda ito ng life imprisonment without parole at multa mula P5 milyon hanggang P20 milyon para sa mga sangkot at nakikipagsabwatan sa espionage at panghihimasok sa ating panloob na usapin – kabilang ang mga tumutulong o nakikibahagi sa mga gawaing iyon.

Ngayong Marso, nananatili pa rin ang panukala sa Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.

Binanggit ni Lacson na mas mahigpit ang parusa sa espionage sa ibang bansa, kabilang na ang pagpataw ng kamatayan sa China.

Sa ilalim naman ng batas ng U.S. laban sa espionage, siya mismo ay sumailalim sa pagsusuri dahil sa pagtanggap ng email mula kay Leandro Aragoncillo, na kinasuhan ng espionage. Ang kanyang email ay minonitor at ang kanyang visa ay kinansela noon.

“Ganoon kahigpit ang ibang bansa,” aniya.

Noong nakaraang linggo, kinumpirma ng National Security Council na tatlong Pilipino ang na-detain kaugnay ng umano’y espionage na pinaniniwalaang konektado sa dayuhang intelligence na aktibo sa Pilipinas, at ang mga suspek ay umamin at nakikipagtulungan sa mga awtoridad, ani Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.

Ibinunyag din ng mga opisyal na ang mga indibidwal ay na-recruit sa pamamagitan ng lihim na paraan at gumamit ng digital platforms upang ipasa ang impormasyon bilang bahagi ng espionage network na iniimbestigahan.

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