MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered a thorough review of its internal protocols for safeguarding sensitive data, following the House of Representatives’ approval of proposed legislation to bolster national espionage defenses.
PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. initiated the security review after the passage of House Bill 9642, also known as the proposed New Espionage Act, which cleared its third and final reading in the lower chamber with 247 affirmative votes, 10 negative votes, and zero abstentions.
Nartatez voiced strong backing for the legislative move, pointing out the necessity of modernizing measures to shield critical state information.
“The Philippine National Police supports measures that strengthen the protection of classified information and safeguard national security,” Nartatez said.
He noted that updating statutory frameworks is critical to protecting national defense assets and state operations against modern threats, while stressing the importance of legal boundaries.
“Any proposed law that helps deter espionage and protects sensitive government operations is a welcome development, provided it remains consistent with the Constitution and respects fundamental rights,” he noted.
In line with the pending legislation, Nartatez explained that the PNP will evaluate its operational security standards, accountability structures, and training programs to address emerging risks.
“We continuously review and enhance our internal information-security protocols to protect sensitive operational and intelligence information,” Nartatez stated.
“We will ensure that existing safeguards, accountability measures, and personnel awareness programs remain responsive to evolving security challenges and emerging threats,” he added.
To further bolster counterintelligence capabilities, the PNP plans to deepen inter-agency coordination with key security entities, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).