Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Teresita Daza said the DFA is closely monitoring foreign espionage reports, spurred by allegations against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
“The department has noted press reports containing relevant information on alleged foreign covert operations in the Philippines in accordance with its mandate to help protect national security,” she said.
Daza confirmed that the department had reviewed the documentary alleging foreign covert activities tied to the Philippines.
The official assured the public that the DFA is working closely with relevant agencies in the Philippines regarding this concern.
The documentary, aired last week by Al Jazeera, featured Cambodian-Chinese kingpin She Zhijiang, who identified himself as a former spy for China’s Ministry of State Security.
She, currently imprisoned in Thailand for illegal online gambling operations, made explosive claims in the documentary, alleging that Guo Hua Ping, also known as Alice Guo, was involved in Chinese intelligence operations.
He further alleged that Guo, a Chinese national with ties to the Communist Party in Fujian province, was like him, fully dedicated to China’s intelligence agency.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is also looking into reports that Guo is a Chinese spy, DOJ Undersecretary Nicky Ty said.
The official said the DOJ will coordinate with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and National Security Agency (NSA) to determine the veracity of the information.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) meanwhile has filed complaints against Guo.
The NBI said this was after it was found out that the signature on her notarized counter-affidavit was not hers.
Meanwhile in a press conference, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said complaints of falsification by a notary public, use of falsified documents, perjury, and obstruction of justice were filed against Guo, Elmer Galicia, the lawyer who notarized her counter affidavit, and three others.
NBI Task Force Alice Guo head agent Palmer Mallari said the results of an examination showed that Guo did not sign her counter-affidavit, contrary to her testimony on September 17, ABS-CBN News reported.
Mallari said the NBI collected sample specimen signatures from original documents in Bamban as well as sample specimen signatures from the counter-affidavit, which was supposedly for Guo’s qualified trafficking complaint.
“After the examination… it was proven that the sample signatures appearing on those documents as compared to the supposed signature appearing on the counter-affidavit were actually not written by one and the same person,” Mallari, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “DFA now looking into foreign covert operations in the Philippines”
