Chinese national, 2 Filipinos arrested for alleged espionage

A Chinese national, identified as a graduate of a People's Liberation Army-controlled university, and two Filipinos were arrested for allegedly conducting espionage activities in the Philippines.

The Chinese national, who has been travelling in and out of the Philippines since 2015 and is allegedly married to a Filipina, is accused of mapping critical infrastructures and strategic areas across Luzon since December 2024.

The suspects are accused of visiting sensitive locations, including military camps and EDCA sites, with seized technology capable of obtaining frequencies from military and police bases.

The AFP is investigating the extent of Chinese government involvement and a potential link to a Chinese submarine drone retrieved in Masbate.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, urged the Philippines to stop 'shadow-chasing' and protect the rights of Chinese nationals.

The suspects have been charged with espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616 in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.