MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is taking a major step toward overhauling its decades-old espionage laws after the House of Representatives approved a sweeping new measure designed to address cyber-enabled spying, unauthorized disclosure of classified information, attacks on critical infrastructure and other emerging national-security threats.
House Bill No. 9642, or the proposed “New Espionage Act,” was approved on third and final reading on September 17, 2026, with 247 lawmakers voting in favor, 10 against and none abstaining, according to official House records.
The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed the House action, describing the measure as a long-overdue modernization of what it considers an outdated legal framework for dealing with contemporary security threats.
From Cold War-Era Espionage to Cyber Spying
The proposed legislation seeks to replace or substantially modernize provisions rooted in laws dating back decades.
The existing framework includes Article 117 of the Revised Penal Code and Commonwealth Act No. 616, the latter enacted in 1941. Existing provisions were written for a security environment vastly different from today’s world of cyber networks, digital surveillance, drones and attacks against critical infrastructure.
The House measure seeks to broaden the concept of espionage beyond traditional spying.
Under HB 9642, prohibited conduct could include unauthorized handling or disclosure of classified information that harms—or could harm—the Philippines, as well as unauthorized access to plans, blueprints, layouts or other representations involving critical infrastructure and national-defense facilities.
The measure also addresses the use of modern surveillance equipment and technology in espionage-related activities.
Life Imprisonment and Millions in Fines
The proposed penalties are significantly heavier than those associated with the older framework.
Under the House-approved measure, espionage and conspiracy to commit espionage could carry life imprisonment without parole or the benefits of good-conduct time allowance, together with fines ranging from ₱10 million to ₱20 million.
The bill also covers other conduct, including proposing espionage, interference with national-defense assets and certain acts involving surveillance equipment such as drones, cameras, listening devices and tracking technology when used for prohibited spying activities.
Government officials convicted under the proposed law could face perpetual absolute disqualification from public office, while military personnel could also face proceedings through the court-martial system. Convicted foreign nationals could be deported after serving their sentences and permanently barred from returning to the Philippines.
Surveillance Powers Could Also Expand
One of the more significant provisions involves investigations.
The proposed law would allow qualified military, law-enforcement or intelligence personnel to seek authorization from the Court of Appeals for surveillance, interception and recording of communications in espionage cases, subject to specified conditions.
Among the requirements reported in the House-approved measure are reasonable grounds to believe that an espionage offense has been or is about to be committed, that the evidence sought is essential, and that no other readily available means can obtain it.
The bill would also give the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) a role in investigating property and funds allegedly connected to espionage offenses, including financial inquiries subject to applicable legal safeguards.
The Law Could Reach Beyond Philippine Territory
HB 9642 also contains provisions for extraterritorial application in specified circumstances.
According to BusinessMirror’s review of the measure, this could cover certain offenses committed abroad by Filipinos, aboard Philippine ships or aircraft, inside Philippine diplomatic premises, against Philippine officials or directly against the Philippine government.
That provision reflects how the proposed law is designed to address espionage in an increasingly interconnected environment rather than limiting enforcement to physical acts occurring inside the Philippines.
Why the DND Says the Measure Is Urgent
The DND said the country’s existing legal framework has been inadequately equipped to address what it described as modern and asymmetric security threats.
The department pointed to the emergence of sophisticated operations targeting sensitive information and critical infrastructure, including activity taking place in what security officials describe as the cognitive and digital domains.
The push for reform also comes amid heightened attention to alleged foreign-directed espionage and influence operations.
In March 2026, the National Security Council confirmed that Philippine authorities had uncovered what it described as a serious national-security matter involving alleged espionage and foreign-directed malign activities linked to China. The NSC said the operation had been addressed and that several Filipino nationals had confessed their involvement, while declining to provide operational details.
The government has subsequently expanded its Insider Threat Program beyond the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Department of National Defense to other government agencies.
What Happens Next?
Despite the House approval, HB 9642 is not yet law.
The official House legislative record shows that the measure passed second reading on September 7 and third reading on September 17. The next major legislative step is consideration by the Senate, followed by the constitutional process required before a bill can become law.
The measure is therefore entering a potentially important phase: lawmakers must still determine whether the House version will advance through the Senate and, if the chambers approve different versions, whether the differences will have to be reconciled.
For now, the House vote represents a significant legislative move to replace an espionage framework built around security realities of the 1930s and 1940s with one intended to address cyber espionage, classified-information leaks, surveillance technology, critical infrastructure and modern foreign-intelligence operations.
And that is where the biggest questions may begin—not simply how the Philippines will punish espionage, but how the expanded powers will be implemented while protecting constitutional rights and fundamental liberties.
The House itself says the proposed framework must uphold those rights even as national-security protections are strengthened.
