27 August 2025
PRESS RELEASE
Tougher anti-spy law
Jinggoy renews push for proposed ‘New Anti-Espionage Act’
CITING numerous alarming incidents involving the arrest of foreign nationals spying on both military and civilian activities using advanced technologies, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada underscored the urgency of passing a bill that updates the country’s World War II-era law against espionage.
“Pinaglumaan na ng panahon ang batas natin laban sa pang-eespiya. Kailangan na rin palawakin natin ang sakop ng batas na ito dahil may mga makabagong pamamaraan na ng paniniktik gaya ng electronic o cyber means na hindi saklaw ng antiquated na Commonwealth Act No. 616,” Estrada said.
Estrada discussed the merits of his proposed landmark bill, Senate Bill No. 73 or the proposed ‘New Anti-Espionage Act,’ and the bills introduced by Senators Panfilo Lacson, Joel Villanueva, and Juan Miguel Zubiri, which all seek to overhaul the outdated espionage law, as he presided over the hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
The proposals all aim to modernize the framework to address espionage in the digital age.
“Considering the antiquated nature of our espionage laws — which were approved more than eight decades ago, the immense changes in the national defense and security landscape since then, and the continuing geopolitical tensions in the region, today is an opportune time to revisit pertinent policies and introduce appropriate amendments,” Estrada said.
Estrada first pursued his proposed legislation during the previous Congress, but lawmakers failed to approve it due to lack of counterpart measure from the House of Representatives.
The bill proposes tougher penalties, including life imprisonment without the benefit of parole and fines of up to P50 million. It also penalizes conspiracy, aiding and abetting, harboring offenders, and acts of interference or destruction targeting national defense and security operations.
It mandates the classification and safeguarding of sensitive information, judicially supervised surveillance of suspects, and forfeiture of materials used in espionage activities.
The proposed law would apply extraterritorially, ensuring accountability for both Filipino citizens and foreign nationals regardless of where the offense is committed.
Foreigners found guilty of any offense under the law will, in addition to serving their sentence, be immediately deported after imprisonment and permanently barred from reentering the country.
The bill also imposes perpetual disqualification from public office and the maximum penalty on any government official or employee found guilty of engaging in spying activities.
“This bill aims to close the glaring gaps in our current legal framework and respond to the evolving threats brought about by cyber technologies and modern warfare tactics. Espionage is no longer confined to physical spaces. With the rise of cyber and digital platforms, sensitive information can be stolen without crossing borders. We need a law that is comprehensive, future-ready, and strongly deterrent,” Estrada stressed.