Lacson files bill to modernize PH anti-espionage law, impose life imprisonment for spies

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has filed a measure seeking to strengthen and modernize the Philippines’ anti-espionage laws, including provisions dating back to 1941.

Lacson’s Senate Bill No. 33, or the “New Anti-Espionage Act,” seeks to increase penalties for espionage and expand the law’s coverage to include activities carried out through modern technologies and foreign interference in government affairs.

The proposed measure would also allow surveillance, interception, and recording of communications of suspected spies, subject to safeguards and a written court order from the Court of Appeals.

Lacson said existing laws such as Commonwealth Act No. 616 and Article 117 of the Revised Penal Code no longer adequately address modern espionage threats.

“Recent technological advancements, along with the potential involvement of foreign jurisdictions in our country’s political and governmental affairs, have exposed significant gaps” in the current legal framework, Lacson said in the bill.

The measure expands the definition of espionage to include acts carried out through physical, electronic, cyber or other means that may harm the Philippines or give advantage to a foreign state or entity.

Lacson cited several recent espionage-related incidents, including the April 2025 arrest of a Chinese national near the Commission on Elections office allegedly carrying an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher capable of intercepting phone signals and tracking location data.

Under the proposed law, individuals convicted of espionage or interference in the country’s internal affairs could face life imprisonment without parole and fines ranging from ₱5 million to ₱20 million, while government officials found guilty would also face perpetual disqualification from public office.