MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has renewed his push for a stronger anti-espionage law following confirmed reports of foreign espionage activities in the country. 

Lacson said in a DZRH interview on Thursday, March 12, that he filed Senate Bill No. 33 seeking amendments to the anti-espionage law as early as July last year, but the proposed measure is still pending before the Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification and reconciliation.

“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.

SB 33 seeks to strengthen and modernize the country’s anti-espionage laws through stiffer penalties, and an expanded coverage to include new technologies.

Under Lacson’s proposal, those found guilty of espionage and those who aid and abet them face life imprisonment without parole and fines ranging from P5 million to P20 million.

Rappler recently ran a three-part investigative series that examines how Filipinos with access to sensitive security information and documents were recruited to provide information to Chinese nationals.

The National Security Council confirmed the reports and said spying operations “linked” to China have been “addressed and terminated.” – Rappler.com