Chinese National Involved in Unauthorized Surveillance of Sensitive Areas: Philippines

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday reiterated that a Chinese national and his two Filipino companions, arrested earlier this month, were involved in "unauthorized foreign intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance activity."

This statement follows a claim by the suspect's family, who have denied allegations of espionage.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, speaking in an ambush interview, confirmed that the arrested individuals were engaged in clandestine activities that were not intended to be publicly disclosed. She highlighted that data recovered from the suspects’ confiscated equipment included detailed maps of critical infrastructure, including military and Philippine National Police (PNP) camps. Padilla stressed that such data would be difficult to alter or fabricate, raising concerns about the motives behind its collection.

The AFP spokesperson emphasized that the investigation is based on solid, "empirical data" rather than speculation. "We are conducting investigations to ensure that accurate information is obtained," Padilla noted. The AFP is treating the matter with the utmost seriousness due to its implications for national security.

The arrests took place on January 17, when the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detained Chinese national Deng Yuanqing and Filipinos Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jason Amado Fernandez in Makati City. Authorities also seized a Toyota Rav4 SUV equipped with high-precision mapping devices capable of pinpointing coordinates with centimeter-level accuracy. The vehicle was described as a "rover," used for mapping and locating sensitive locations.

In response to the growing concern over espionage activities, Padilla called for strengthening the Philippines' espionage laws, echoing statements made by senior government officials.