Manila, July 3 -- Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday filed a bill seeking to strengthen and modernize the country's 78-year-old anti-espionage law by introducing harsher penalties for the crime.

The proposed "New Anti-Espionage Act," increases penalties for such offenses and covers new technologies, as well as activities by foreign jurisdictions that can interfere with government affairs.

It also allows the surveillance of suspects and interception and recording of communications after a court order from the Court of Appeals.

"Recent technological advancements, along with the potential involvement of foreign jurisdictions in our country's political and governmental affairs, have exposed significant gaps in Commonwealth Act No. 616 and ...