Philippines alarmed over China arrest of alleged Filipino spies

FILE PHOTO: Colonel Medel Aguilar (right), spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, whispers to Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the National Security Council, as they take part in a press conference in response to recent aggression of the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, Philippines, August 07, 2023. - Photo: Pool via Reuters

MANILA: The Philippines expressed alarm on Saturday (April 5) over the arrest of three Filipinos in China on suspicion of espionage, saying they were ordinary citizens and the arrests could be retaliation for Manila's crackdown against alleged Chinese spies.

Chinese authorities arrested the Filipinos and accused them of working for the Philippine intelligence agency to gather classified information on its military, the state-run China Daily reported earlier this week, citing state security officials. It said the three had confessed to the crime.