Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns regarding national security during a Senate Committee on National Defense hearing on Wednesday, August 27, citing alarming incidents involving Chinese nationals in the Philippines.

Hontiveros identified three key areas of concern which are land, ocean, and national institutions. She emphasized the need for heightened attention and stronger safeguards to address potential threats.

Land

She said to look at the items brought by the arrested Chinese nationals, which among the confiscated items from arrested Chinese nationals were IMSI catchers, which are capable of intercepting mobile phone communications, and Lidar sensors equipped with triple-camera setups and navigational satellite systems used for detailed topographic mapping.

Ocean

Authorities also seized drones, solar-powered CCTV systems, and deploy-and-forget underwater drones, alongside acoustic sensors and satellite communication (satcom) devices from the Chinese nationals. There are also those who were caught with terrain maps where the nation’s important bases can be seen.

Institution

“Of course, there is also the threat posed by foreign, coordinated disinformation and malign influence operations—na dapat nating aksyunan habang nirerespeto ang karapatan sa pamamahayag ng mamamayan,” Hontiveros said.

The senator stressed that the issue goes beyond the confiscated equipment. She underscored the importance of adequate funding, enhanced capacity, better coordination, stronger accountability, and most importantly, rigorous vetting of personnel in national security agencies to protect the Filipino people.

“Dear colleagues, ang soberanya natin, hindi lang nakasukat sa teritoryo. Nasa pag-aalaga rin natin sa integridad at dangal ng ating mga institusyon, proseso, at pati papeles,” she said as Senate further discuss the proposed legislation under the Anti-Espionage Act.