MANILA — Malacañang assured the public that government security forces are monitoring and addressing possible sleeper agent activities in the country, following concerns raised by former senator Panfilo Lacson.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the National Security Council (NSC) has confirmed that security agencies are taking measures to respond to espionage threats.

Quoting the NSC, Castro said: “We cannot go into specifics for security reasons but we can assure the public that our security forces are actively monitoring and addressing these threats. The government does not take espionage lightly, and we act swiftly when credible intelligence is verified. Recent operations have already led to arrest of suspected foreign operatives which shows that our agencies are not standing still. We are working closely with law enforcement and intelligence units to dismantle espionage network whenever they may be.”

Castro urged the public not to worry, noting that intelligence and law enforcement agencies are “doing their job” to protect national security.