The National Security Council (NSC) is awaiting an official statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) regarding the alleged arrest of three Filipinos in China for suspected espionage.
According to NSC Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, the Philippine government currently holds limited information, including reports of the arrests in Hainan Islands and the names of the three Filipinos, as published by Chinese state media.
Malaya cautioned the public that information from Chinese state media must be verified first, noting that some reports may serve as propaganda against the Philippines.
He confirmed that the NSC is coordinating with the DFA to determine the veracity of the incident and to provide assistance to the individuals involved if the report is found to be accurate.
The NSC is also checking whether the Chinese government has officially informed Philippine embassies in China about the incident.
Additionally, Malaya said they are in communication with the Philippine Consul General in Guangzhou, the nearest consulate to Hainan Islands where the arrests allegedly took place.
The NSC urged the public to avoid speculation and allow the Philippine government to thoroughly verify the facts before drawing conclusions.
The news of the arrests was first reported by Chinese state media on April 3.