Chinese spy equipment near Comelec has raised fresh concerns over foreign interference in the upcoming elections, following the arrest of a Chinese national carrying an IMSI catcher close to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) premises.
Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino said the arrest strengthens the findings of a recent Senate inquiry, which alleged that China is actively working to meddle in the country’s democratic process.
Tolentino praised the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for what he described as the result of “tons of intelligence work,” commending its swift action in uncovering what he called a covert operation to serve Beijing’s agenda.
He warned that such actions aim to undermine the credibility of Philippine elections and emphasized the importance of shielding government institutions from foreign influence.
As the principal author of Senate Bill 2951, also known as the proposed Counter Foreign Interference Act, Tolentino vowed to pursue legislative reforms to modernize anti-espionage laws dating back to the Commonwealth era.
He noted that the bill aims to implement stricter regulations and harsher penalties to address espionage threats in the digital age.
Tolentino expressed confidence that with the unified effort of the government, intelligence agencies, and the Filipino people, any attempt to subvert the country’s democratic institutions will ultimately fail.