MANILA, Philippines — China’s alleged recruitment of Filipino military and police personnel must be investigated, lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives said. They also said that the reported existence of Chinese sleeper cells, or secretive groups on standby to conduct “infiltration and intervention activities,” in the country must be looked into ..read more

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine government is ready to use “authority and forces” against attempts to divide the nation, a security official said Sunday, after former President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to separate some southern islands from the rest of the archipelago. Duterte has called for the independence of his hometown Mindanao from the Philippines as his ..read more

HONG KONG — Hong Kong began public consultation on a local National Security Law on Tuesday, more than three years after Beijing imposed a similar law that has all but wiped out dissent in the semi-autonomous city. The new law could expand the government’s ability to prosecute residents for offenses like collaborating with foreign forces ..read more

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has ordered the Department of National Defense (DND) to stop outsourcing its staff to minimize the risk of espionage. “There is a full security review ongoing,” Teodoro said in a speech he gave on Tuesday during the forum by Manila Overseas Press Club in a Makati hotel ..read more

Congress must nip in the bud the revived practice of providing confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) to a number of agencies that are questionable not only for their impropriety but also for the unusual jump in their amounts in the proposed 2023 national budget, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Wednesday. Pimentel […] The post Big intel funds for OVP, DepEd, OSG risky–Koko Pimentel appeared first on Inquirer News ..read more

HONG KONG — A Hong Kong court on Wednesday lifted a reporting restriction on a landmark national security case involving a now disbanded group that used to organize candlelight vigils on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The decision follows a ruling by High Court judge Alex Lee this month, overturning a ruling by […] The post Hong Kong lifts reporting restriction on national security issue appeared first on Inquirer News ..read more

There will be no more Red-tagging in the administration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if the appointed National Security Adviser (NSA) Clarita Carlos can help it. “I have repeatedly declared that Red-tagging should be stopped because it makes no sense labeling people,” Carlos said on Friday at the Laging Handa briefing. “For me, as a […] The post Bongbong Marcos security adviser: Red-tagging should stop appeared first on Inquirer News ..read more

HONG KONG—A veteran Hong Kong journalist was arrested by national security police on Monday for allegedly conspiring to publish “seditious materials”, police said. The arrest is the latest blow to the local press in Hong Kong, which has seen its media freedom rating plummet as Beijing cracks down on dissent. Allan Au, a 54-year-old reporter […] The post Veteran Hong Kong journalist arrested for ‘sedition’ appeared first on Inquirer News ..read more

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial aspirant Loren Legarda urged her fellow election 2022 candidates to present their national security platforms to the Filipinos, citing that this is important in reaching the goal of safer and more progressive recovery of the country from the pandemic. Legarda made this statement after serving as Guest of Honor at the […] The post Loren Legarda urges fellow candidates to present platforms for national security appeared first on Inquirer News ..read more

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Antonio Trillanes IV is supporting Vice President Leni Robredo in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying the Philippines should make a stand and “always ally itself with what is right.” “Parati tayong kumakampi sa tama, doon sa naninindigan para sa demokrasya,” said Trillanes in a DZRH interview held recently. (We […] The post Trillanes backs Robredo in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine appeared first on Inquirer News ..read more