Marcos ‘very disturbed’ by presence of alleged Chinese spies in Palawan

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla (seated, second from left), flanked by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and NBI Director Jaime Santiago presents to the media a suspected Chinese spy and his two Filipino cohorts who were arrested for alleged espionage. —(RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Friday admitted that he is “very disturbed” by the arrest of five suspected Chinese “spies” who allegedly set up high-resolution solar-powered cameras pointed at the waters of Palawan where Coast Guard vessels pass en route to the West Philippine Sea.

“That’s why we arrested them. Of course, we are very disturbed by anyone conducting such espionage operations against our military,” Marcos said in ambush interview when asked if he was bothered by the development.  

Marcos also said that the Philippines has had no official discussion with China yet regarding the suspected Chinese spies.

“We have no official contact with China,” Marcos said.

“The investigative services is still developing more information to see exactly what these five have been…what operations have they been doing in the Philippines dahil ‘yung iba matagal nang nandito nakapangasawa na ng mga Pilipina, sleeper talaga, sleeper. Tinatawag na sleeper,” he continued.

(Some of them have been here for a long time and have even married Filipinas.)

Marcos also hopes to speak with the arrested “spies” to determine if there are more of them in other parts of the country.

“Dahil kailangan, kung sakali lang, baka naman pag nakausap natin sila masabi sa atin baka mayroon pang iba na maaari nating puntahan at pag explain-in kung ano ‘yung kanilang ginagawa,” he said.

(Because it is necessary, when we talk to them, they can tell us if there are others that we can go to and explain what they are doing.)

On Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation presented to the media the five alleged Chinese spies who were purportedly monitoring Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy activities in Palawan in their operations in the WPS.