SENATE President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada grilled former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, on allegations of her being a Chinese spy during Tuesday’s public hearing, October 8, 2024, of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality. Guo, however, vehemently denied any involvement in espionage activities for China.
Estrada expressed concerns about the possible existence of Chinese “sleeper cells” in the country. “This is a serious national security concern, and we need to investigate whether covert and illegal operations are being conducted here as part of a foreign country’s influence operation,” he stated. Estrada stressed the need to identify and hold accountable those who exploit vulnerabilities in the system, whether for personal gain or for the benefit of a foreign entity.
Estrada stated that he would pursue amendments to the 83-year-old Commonwealth Act No. 616, also known as the Espionage Law. He has introduced Senate Bill No. 2368, which aims to broaden the scope of the Espionage Act to encompass cyber espionage and impose harsher penalties on those who violate the law.
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