MANILA, April 5 -- The National Security Council (NSC) has expressed alarm over the arrest of three Filipino nationals for suspected espionage in China, saying they are mere "ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training."

"They are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records and were vetted and screened by the Chinese government prior to their arrival there," NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a statement on Saturday.

Citing the limited information released by Chinese media, Malaya said their detention "can be seen as a retaliation for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices" in the Philippines in recent months.

He also mentioned an edited video released by Chinese media showing ...