Philippine immigration claims arrested foreign spies lived in country for decades

The Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines reported that five Chinese nationals arrested for espionage had been living in the country for decades. Some had legal work visas or were married to Filipinos, with some residing in the Philippines since 2002. The suspects were allegedly monitoring military activities and conducting aerial reconnaissance in Palawan. They were arrested between January 24 and 25 and face charges under the anti-espionage law and the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Authorities found evidence of their surveillance activities on confiscated devices, including images of military sites. The suspects reportedly posed as members of legitimate organizations to gain access to sensitive information.