It occurs in agricultural lands, secondary forest, and primary forest (Heaney et al. 1991, Lepiten 1995, Rickart et al. 1993), including montane and mossy forest on Luzon (Heaney et al. 2005). It roosts in limestone caves in small to medium-sized colonies (Sedlock et al. 2014, Alviola et al. 2015, Tanalgo and Tabora 2015, Phelps et al. 2016, Quibod et al. 2019). Signature echolocation calls have been recorded from several localities in the Philippines (Sedlock 2001, Amberong et al. 2021).

This species is known from the Philippines and Indonesia. It is widespread in the Philippines with specimen records from: Biliran, Bohol, Camiguin, Catanduanes, Dalupiri, Dinagat, Fuga, Guimaras, Leyte, Lubang, Luzon (Abra, Aurora, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Pampanga, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Sorsogon, Tarlac, and Zambales provinces), Maripipi, Masbate, Marinduque, Mindanao (Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Maguindanao, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur provinces, Kidapawan), Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Polillo, Samar, Sibutu, Sibuyan, Siquijor, Tablas, and Tawi-tawi islands (Heaney et al. 1998, 2010, Alviola et al. 2015, Duya unpublished data). Specimens from Indonesia on Sumatra, Ambon and a few other small islands, and Sulawesi likely represent distinct species. The species as currently described can be found from sea level above 2,500 m asl (Heaney et al. 2016).

This is a widespread species and it is presumably present in some protected areas. Philippine laws enacted for the conservation, protection, and management of caves and wildlife are in place such as Republic Act 9072 (National Caves and Caves Resources Management and Protection Act) and Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act). Taxonomic revision, population ecology, and life history research in this species are needed.