The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said that they are looking into the report of alleged Chinese sleeper cells in the country.
In a press briefing, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. described the report as “alarming.”
“With regards to these sleeper cells, there were some accomplishments our other law enforcement units, the National Bureau of Investigation have collected,” he said.
“This is alarming. We are looking into this. Of course, it’s not remote. All other countries are doing that. We should watch out for this as part of the security cluster of the country,” Acorda stressed.
For his part, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the report on the supposed sleeper cells is not yet proven.
Nevertheless, the NCRPO chief said the police will still check on the operations of establishments to identify possible spies from foreign governments.
“When the police looks back and all of these agencies invoking their visitorial power, we can avoid what can be avoided like the usual violations,” Nartatez said.
On Friday, the Chinese Embassy belied allegations that China has placed clandestine forces in the Philippines and that the suspects recently arrested in Pasay City were among the sleeper cells deployed in the country.
“We strongly oppose and condemn such baseless allegations and malicious spreading of disinformation,” Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said.
The Chinese embassy was coordinating with Philippine enforcement agencies as regards the two Chinese suspects, he added.
The NBI nabbed the Chinese suspects and seized high-powered weapons including an assault rifle, including a 40-caliber pistol with ammunitions.
Also recovered from the Chinese nationals were patches embroidered with the words Sniper Team, Assault Team, Blasting Team, and Machine Gun Team, which were found to be accessories of an airsoft uniform.
NBI regional director Rommel Vallejo denied that the arrested suspects were part of a destabilization plot.