Authorities are still investigating the April 29 arrest of a Chinese national found with a suspected spy device near the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office in Intramuros, Manila, citing it as a matter of national security.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring the progress of the investigation, said Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a press briefing.

“That (arrest of the alleged Chinese spy) is an issue of national security. So, we will just leave it at that, and we’ll just have a thorough investigation,” Castro said when asked if the President had issued specific directives regarding the case.

Castro said the President has been informed of the arrest, which the administration considers “quite alarming.”

The Palace Press Officer said the President is awaiting the results of the final investigation into the alleged espionage incident.

When asked whether Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian would be summoned to clarify the matter, Castro said the Palace would defer the issue to the Department of National Defense (DND).

“Ibabato na lang po natin ang katanungan sa ating (DND) Secretary Gibo (Gilberto Teodoro) patungkol po diyan,” she said. | PND