By Rodolfo Dacleson II
(January 20, 2025) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said security in military camps and facilities has been tightened nationwide after the arrest of an alleged spy from China.
Deng Yuanqing was found conducting surveillance operations in key civilian and military installations. According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), he is a technical software engineer connected with China’s People’s Liberation Army. He’s been in the country for over five years.
“We are also monitoring the periphery of our camps dahil napansin natin na sa EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) sites ay bigla na lang may tumatayong mga POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operator) sa katabing area,” said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said during a media briefing.
He added that they are investigating the connection of Deng’s alleged espionage to the arrest of another Chinese caught with possible surveillance equipment last year.
“We believe na nagsimula ‘yung espionage ng China even prior to the apprehension of the equipment last year. But nakita po natin just recently ‘yung paggamit nila ng mga equipment,” said Brawner.
Last Friday, the NBI apprehended Deng and his two Filipino cohorts, Ronel Jojo Besa And Jayson Fernandez, in a condominium in Makati. They are facing charges of violating Commonwealth Act No. 616 or the Espionage Law.
ALSO READ: Government urged to amend espionage law amid Guo’s alleged spying concern
Authorities confiscated a satellite system, which is capable of generating three-dimensional images of target structures, and other tools for data collection and transmission.
The revelations of self-confessed spy She Zhijiang in a documentary last year brought to light the alleged Chinese spying in the Philippines. He identified former Bamban mayor Alice Guo as a state security agent of China. Guo denied the accusation.
ALSO READ: Guo’s camp says self-confessed spy implicating ex-mayor could be ‘artificial creation’
Last December, fisherfolk recovered an underwater drone with Chinese markings in Masbate.
The Philippines and China have been engaged in a dispute over the West Philippine Sea.
(PM)
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