MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday, October 3, that it was “monitoring relevant developments” related to media reports of “foreign covert operations” in the Philippines.”
“The department has noted press reports containing relevant information on alleged foreign covert operations in the Philippines,” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a briefing with reporters on Thursday.
Asked if the DFA has spoken to the Chinese embassy about reports of Chinese covert operations — activities that could range from espionage to malign influence — Daza said she had “no information.”
A week ago, Al Jazeera released a report that included an exclusive interview with She Zhijiang, a jailed China-born tycoon under detention in Thailand who claimed that he was an agent of China’s Ministry of State Security, their equivalent of the US Central Intelligence Agency.
She also claimed that disgraced Bamban mayor Alice Guo, who faces a mountain of charges is also the subject of congressional probes, of being an MSS operative herself.
Guo, who has denied allegations that she’s a Chinese spy in the past, has also denied She’s allegations.
“In accordance with its mandate to help protect national security, the department takes such reports seriously and is monitoring relevant developments in this regard,” the DFA said.
Daza confirmed that they were issuing the October 3 statement in response to questions derived from the Al Jazeera report.
Rappler had earlier reported how Philippine intelligence operatives tracked and identified an MSS operative who worked in the Philippines for over two years as a foreign journalist. Our earlier report has since been confirmed by National Security Adviser Eduardo Año. – Rappler.com
