Manila, July 14 -- The Philippines has been granted access to visit the three Filipino nationals earlier arrested in China for suspected espionage, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said Monday.

In a media engagement in Pasay City, Lazaro said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is classifying the case as a "consular issue" and that full government support would be provided to the three.

"The Chinese government has notified us, and this is under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate in Guangzhou, and the access to the three persons has been granted," she said.

Lazaro also assured their families that the Philippine government has already tapped a law firm to handle their case.

"This is what we have done so far tow...