04/04/2025
FREE OUR STUDENTS
As a fellow Palaweño and Commissioner-at-Large of the National Youth Commission, I am deeply alarmed and outraged by the recent report from China Daily, an official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, which publicly accused three young Palaweños—David Servañez, Albert Endencia, and Nathalie Plizardo—of espionage.
These individuals—reportedly former scholars of the Palawan provincial government—are now detained in China under grave, opaque charges that appear to lack credible evidence, transparency, or due process. They were named and shamed in state-controlled media, with no clear legal proceedings or access to proper representation.
It is unfortunate, and at the same time ironic, that these kababayans of ours, who are now legally staying and working in China, went there originally as scholars - as part of efforts to deepen people-to-people relations and promote mutual understanding between the Province of Palawan and Philippines and the Chinese province of Hainan.
This is a blatant act of propaganda and intimidation. To use state-controlled media to parade young Filipinos as alleged spies is not only irresponsible—it is cruel and inhumane. These are not criminals; they are youth who pursued international opportunities to grow, learn, and serve their homeland.
As a government official, I firmly believe that this incident deserves urgent and coordinated action. I respectfully urge the Department of Foreign Affairs and all relevant agencies to exhaust all diplomatic channels to secure access to our detained kababayans, verify their condition, and ensure their rights are upheld under international law.
This incident must also prompt a broader conversation about the safety of our young Filipinos abroad—particularly in countries where political systems can turn vulnerable individuals into pawns in broader geopolitical tensions. We must build stronger safeguards and more vigilant support systems for our youth working or studying overseas.
I stand in solidarity with the families of David, Albert, and Nathalie, and with every young Filipino who deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness—no matter where in the world they may be.
As National Youth Commissioner, I will work to ensure that this issue remains part of the national youth agenda. The Filipino youth are not pawns. They are the future of our nation—and they deserve nothing less than justice, protection, and truth.
