MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that three Filipino nationals are currently detained in Beijing, China, over alleged involvement in espionage activities.
The agency emphasized that legal assistance is being actively provided by the Philippine government.
In an official statement released Friday, the DFA stated that it had been formally notified of the charges against the individuals and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding their rights.
“Protecting the rights and interests of the said Filipinos remains the prime priority for the Philippine Government,” the DFA said.
It added that the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou is extending full consular and legal support to the detainees.
The department also urged Chinese authorities to ensure the three individuals receive due process by Chinese domestic laws and the Philippines-China Consular Agreement.
The initial reports on March 13 indicated that two of the three arrested were former scholars under the Hainan Government Scholarship Program and residents of Palawan. The third detainee is also reportedly from the same province.
When pressed for additional details, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega declined to comment further, citing the sensitive nature of the case, and assured that the DFA is managing the situation with discretion.