Busted: 3 Filipino Defense Insiders Caught Spying for China, Leaked West Philippine Sea Secrets
Three Filipino nationals working inside the country's own defense establishment have been caught red-handed spying for China, the National Security Council (NSC) confirmed Thursday. The trio — employed at the Department of National Defense, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Coast Guard — allegedly handed over classified information to Chinese intelligence handlers over a period of time.
Among the most damaging leaks were operational details about military resupply missions in the disputed South China Sea, where tensions between Manila and Beijing have been escalating for years. Lists of military personnel and other sensitive defense data were also reportedly turned over to Chinese handlers. NSC spokesman Cornelio Valencia described the three as "low-level analysts" who were gradually recruited — unaware at first that they were being co-opted into espionage.
"At the end of the day, it's always money," Valencia said bluntly when asked about the suspects' motivations. The three have since confessed and are now cooperating with authorities. The NSC said it has "addressed and terminated" the operations but declined to reveal identities, methods, or timelines to avoid compromising ongoing investigations.
This isn't an isolated incident. The Philippines arrested several Chinese nationals last year over espionage-related activities. In April 2025, a Chinese man was caught operating an IMSI catcher — a device that mimics cell towers to intercept mobile communications — near the Commission on Elections office, just weeks before the midterm elections. Two other Chinese men had been detained months earlier for using the same surveillance tech near military installations in Manila.
The Coast Guard has separately admitted that poor handling of classified documents contributed to the data breach. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has called for comprehensive reports on insider threats across all defense agencies. The Chinese Embassy in Manila has not responded to requests for comment.
Source: The Manila Times
