The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured the continued security of critical areas in the country following the arrest of a Chinese national and two Filipinos allegedly involved in illegal surveillance and espionage activities.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad of the AFP Public Affairs Office emphasized that their unit is equipped with intelligence and surveillance capabilities, which allowed them to detect the alleged 'spy' and his associates.
Moreover, stricter protocols are reportedly being implemented in military camps following the recent signing of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).
On Monday, operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended the suspects along with a vehicle they allegedly used for their spying activities, which was found to contain espionage equipment.
LOOK: Ipinakita ng DOJ at NBI ang nakumpiskang equipment na ginamit umano ng Chinese national sa pang-e-espiya sa bansa | RH 29 @boy_gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/K40fqvrhDG
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 20, 2025
The arrest was based on an intelligence report from AFP Naval Operatives, revealing that Chinese nationals, posing as autonomous vehicle developers, were allegedly conducting surveillance and illicitly obtaining national defense information using advanced technology.
Operatives then monitored the suspect vehicle traveling between the National Capital Region (NCR) and various parts of Luzon, conducting surveillance and gathering detailed images of terrains, structures, and overall topography of potential targets, without the consent or authorization of the Philippine government.
Authorities discovered several images from the suspects, including photographs of Philippine military camps such as Camp Crame, Camp Aguinaldo, and Fort Bonifacio.
Furthermore, the suspects were reportedly conducting surveillance not only on military facilities but also on airports, local government agencies, Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, and shopping malls nationwide.
The military urged the public to be more vigilant in monitoring similar modern challenges, citing the previous arrest of a Chinese national by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Makati City last year for the same modus operandi.
During a press conference yesterday, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. revealed that they are looking into a potential link between the suspected spy and the recent discoveries of underwater drones in the country.
