Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1457 
Introduced by ​
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The House QUAD Committee has thus far unearthed testimonial and documentary evidence 
pointing to activities that raise significant red flags with respect to national security. 
Against the backdrop of China’s unlawful incursions in the West Philippine Sea—acts that 
continue to erode our sovereignty and territorial integrity in blatant defiance of international 
law—there emerges a parallel and equally alarming concern: the suspicious influx of Chinese 
nationals enrolling in educational institutions situated dangerously close to key military sites. 
Coupled with the troubling revelations surrounding the background, affiliations, and alleged 
illicit operations of the former mayor of Bamban, Tarlac—who is presently under scrutiny by the 
Committee—these developments present a clear and present risk that must be addressed without 
delay. 
In line with the fundamental tenet enshrined in Section 5, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, 
which affirms that peace and order, the safeguarding of life, liberty, and property, and the 
promotion of the general welfare are essential to the preservation of democracy, this proposed 
legislation seeks to act decisively and proactively. 
This measure aims to revisit, revise, and expand Article 117 of the Revised Penal 
Code—originally enacted in 1932 to define and punish espionage—as well as related provisions 
under Commonwealth Act No. 616 of 1941. Given the evolving threats we now face, the 
immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
July 7, 2025
3:14 pm


HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1457 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT AMENDING ARTICLE 117 OF ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
'REVISED PENAL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES', AS AMENDED, PUNISHING CONSPIRACY 
AND PROPOSAL TO COMMIT ESPIONAGE AND MISPRISION OF ESPIONAGE, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Espionage Law of 2024" . 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect 
life, liberty and property and promote the general welfare which are essential for the enjoyment 
by all the people of the blessings of democracy in a just and humane society, and to protect and 
defend our territory and sovereignty. Further, considering the fast-changing moral, political, 
social and economic environment, and the ever-changing communications and electronics 
equipment and devices, national security shall remain a primary concern of the State and every 
Filipino citizen.  
SEC. 3. Article 117 of the Revised Penal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Art. 117. - Espionage. - The penalty of RECLUSION TEMPORAL AND A FINE NOT 
EXCEEDING FIVE MILLION PESOS (PHP5,000,000.00) NOR LESS THAN THREE 
MILLION PESOS (PHP3.000.000.00) shall be IMPOSED upon any person, who: 
1. Without authority therefor, enters OR AIDS OR INDUCES ANOTHER TO
ENTER a warship, fort, or naval or military establishment or reservation or
FACILITY OR CAMP OR INSTALLATION, to obtain any information, plans,


photographs, or other data WHETHER of a confidential nature OR NOT relative to 
the defense OR SECURITY of the Philippine Archipelago, OR TO MILITARY 
TRAINING 
OR 
EQUIPMENT 
OF 
THE 
ARMED 
FORCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINES; or  
 
2. Being in possession, by reason of the public office he/SHE holds, of the articles, 
data, or information referred to in the preceding paragraph, discloses their contents 
to a representative of a foreign nation, FOREIGN NATIONAL OR TO CRIMINAL 
SYNDICATES OR ELEMENTS TO THE INJURY OF THE PHILIPPINES, OR 
TO 
THE 
ADVANTAGE 
OF 
A 
FOREIGN 
NATION, 
NATIONAL OR 
ORGANIZATION; OR  
 
3. OBTAINS, RECEIVES, GATHERS, PASSES, OR CAUSES TO BE OBTAINED, 
RECEIVED, GATHERED, PASSED, OR ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN, RECEIVE, 
GATHER, OR PASS, IN ANY PLACE IN THE PHILIPPINES INFORMATION 
OR DATA CONCERNING ANY VESSEL, AIRCRAFT, NAVAL STATION, 
MILITARY CAMP OR INSTALLATIONS OR FACILITIES, WORK OF 
DEFENSE, MILITARY TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS 
EQUIPMENT OR FACILITIES, OR OTHER INFORMATION OR DATA 
CONNECTED WITH OR RELATIVE TO NATIONAL DEFENSE OR SECURITY 
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCLOSING SUCH INFORMATION OR DATA TO A 
FOREIGN NATION OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE, OR TO A FOREIGN 
NATIONAL OR ORGANIZATION; OR  
 
4. 
LAWFULLY 
OR 
UNLAWFULLY 
HAVING 
POSSESSION 
OF 
THE 
INFORMATION 
OR 
DATA 
REFERRED 
TO 
IN 
THE 
PRECEDING 
PARAGRAPHS WILLFULLY COMMUNICATES, TRANSMITS, OR ATTEMPTS 
TO COMMUNICATE OR TRANSMIT THE SAME TO ANY PERSON NOT 
ENTITLED TO RECEIVE IT.  
 
The penalty next higher in degree shall be imposed if the offender is a public officer or 
employee AND SUCH PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD IF 
THE OFFENDER IS AN ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIAL.  
 
SEC. 4. Conspiracy and Proposal to commit espionage; Penalty. - The conspiracy or 
proposal to commit the crime of espionage shall be punished by Prision Mayor in its maximum 
period and a fine of not less than Two Million Pesos (Php2,000,000.00) nor more than Three 
Million Pesos (Php3,000,000.00) and Prision Mayor in its medium period and a fine of not less 
than Two Million Pesos (Php2,000,000.00) nor more than Three Million Pesos 
(Php3,000,000.00), respectively.  
 
SEC. 5. Misprision of Espionage. - Any person owing allegiance to the government of 
the Philippines and having knowledge of the commission of any of the unlawful acts enumerated 


and penalized under Sections 3 and 4 of this Act who conceals or does not disclose or make 
known the same as soon as possible to the nearest Philippine National Police station in the City 
or Municipality where he or she resides shall be held liable and punished as an accessory to the 
unlawful act committed.  
 
SEC. 6. Aiding, Inducing, or Supporting violators of the law. - Any person who 
induces, aids, or supports in any manner and in any means, another in obtaining, receiving, 
gathering, or passing in any place in the Philippines information or data concerning any vessel, 
aircraft, naval station, military camp, or installations or facilities, work of defense, military 
training or equipment, or communications equipment or facilities, or other information or data 
connected with or relative to national defense or security for the purpose of disclosing or with the 
intention to disclose such information or data to a foreign nation or its representative, or to a 
foreign national shall be punished by Prision Mayor in its minimum period and a fine of not less 
than One Million Pesos (Php1,000,000.00) nor more than Two Million Pesos (Php2,000,000.00).  
 
SEC. 7. Harboring or Concealing violators of the law. - Any person who harbors or 
conceals another who he or she knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe, has committed or is 
about to commit, any offense under this Act shall be punished by Prision Correccional in its 
maximum period and a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) nor 
more than One Million Pesos (php1,000,000.00).  
 
SEC. 8. Persons Liable. - If the offender is a corporation, the President, Chief Operating 
Officer, General Manager, Treasurer, and/or Finance Officer shall be held criminally liable and a 
fine shall be imposed upon the corporation. Likewise, the Certificate of Registration and 
pertinent Licenses of the corporation shall be revoked and/or canceled and shall no longer be 
allowed reinstatement or renewal. Any person convicted of any of the unlawful acts defined and 
penalized under this Act shall not be eligible for probation nor to parole or executive clemency, 
and if the offender is a foreign national, he or she shall be immediately deported upon serving his 
or her sentence and shall not be allowed to re-enter the Philippines.  
 
SEC. 9. Disposition of property. - All property of any kind, nature or extent used in the 
commission of any of the unlawful acts defined and penalized under this Act, or in furtherance 
thereof, shall be seized and confiscated in favor of the government. 
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and 
effect.  
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, and other issuances 
that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 


Approved,