Three Filipino defence personnel arrested for allegedly spying for China, sharing sensitive military data and South China Sea operational details.
MANILA: Philippine authorities have detained three defence personnel on allegations of spying for China. The National Security Council described the case as a “serious national security matter”.
The trio, who worked for the Department of Defense, Navy and Coast Guard, allegedly provided Chinese handlers with lists of military personnel and other sensitive information. Operational details about resupply missions in the contested South China Sea were also compromised.
National Security Council spokesman Cornelio Valencia said the individuals were “low-level analysts” co-opted over time. He attributed their motives to financial gain, stating “at the end of the day, it’s always money”.
The suspects are now actively cooperating with the government according to officials. Their names and genders have not been disclosed for operational security reasons.
In a statement, the NSC confirmed it had “addressed and terminated” operations conducted at “the behest of Chinese intelligence”. The agency said all individuals involved had confessed and were cooperating.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The NSC cited a recent investigation by local outlet Rappler which first reported Chinese handlers sought maritime deployment data.
This incident follows multiple arrests of Chinese nationals over alleged espionage in the Philippines last year. In April, a Chinese man was apprehended operating a surveillance device near the election commission offices.
That device was an “IMSI catcher” capable of intercepting communications within a several kilometre radius. Two other Chinese men were detained in February 2025 for allegedly using similar equipment near sensitive government locations in Manila.
