Quezon City: Senate candidates from the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas on Friday committed to prioritizing amendments to the country's outdated anti-espionage law and the Fisheries Code, alongside reforms on national security and rural livelihoods. Former senator Panfilo Lacson led the call for repealing Commonwealth Act No. 616, enacted in 1941, describing it as obsolete in the current digital era.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lacson's remarks came after the arrest of a Chinese national near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila, allegedly possessing an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher, a device commonly linked to surveillance activities. Lacson emphasized the outdated nature of the legislation, noting the absence of social media and modern information technology when the law was enacted.

Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos stressed that the Philippines should remain free from foreign interference, especially in elections, urging the Comelec and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to investigate suspicious online activities. Former Senate president Vicente Sotto III highlighted perceived interference from China, referencing reports from the National Security Council and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. Sotto pledged to oppose any moves to repeal the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, cautioning against candidates with pro-China tendencies.

The Alyansa candidates also vowed to amend the Fisheries Code to safeguard small-scale fishers following a Supreme Court ruling permitting commercial vessels in municipal waters. This ruling has faced backlash from local governments and coastal communities. Senatorial aspirant Abby Binay supported redefining municipal waters by considering both distance and depth, while Sotto, the original author of the Fisheries Code, expressed surprise at the court's interpretation.