Foreign power attempts to map out Philippines, warns military

The Philippine military is investigating a series of alarming developments that suggest possible espionage activities by a foreign power. These incidents include the arrest of an alleged Chinese spy, the recovery of drones in Philippine waters, and the apprehension of foreign nationals using counterfeit identification documents.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy’s West Philippine Sea command, raised concerns that these events may signal a “deliberate and calculated move to map out” the country.

“The Chinese national may be an isolated case, but if we look at the bigger picture, last month, we received the drone from fisherfolks — the fifth undergoing forensics,” Trinidad said during a press conference on January 21.

“If we look at the entire expanse of the country covering the different incidents and national power and start connecting the dots among these incidents, there seems now to be a deliberate and calculated move to map out the Philippines by a foreign power,” he added. “This is what your armed forces are monitoring, and we are taking appropriate action.”

Connecting the dots

One incident mentioned by Trinidad involved the discovery of a submersible drone with Chinese markings off the coast of Masbate, one of five underwater devices recovered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Trinidad also highlighted the case of Alice Guo, a Chinese national whose real name is Guo Hua Ping. Guo served as the mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, from June 2022 to August 2024 using a fraudulent Filipino birth certificate. Authorities arrested her last year for her involvement in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities.

“And we only noticed the pattern when we started looking at the bigger picture and connecting the dots,” said Trinidad. While these incidents do not currently pose a direct threat to national security, he warned of risks to public safety, peace, and order.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margeth Padilla also weighed in on the broader issue of espionage. “As we take a step back and look at the bigger picture and connect the dots, we are considering the various siloed approaches,” she said.

Padilla echoed AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.’s earlier remarks about investigating espionage activities by foreign nations.

“What was also notably mentioned by our Chief of Staff was the illegal aspect of the POGO operations,” she said. “How everything forms part of a bigger picture — that is what we intend to achieve with all of this intelligence gathering that we’re doing,” added Padilla.

The AFP, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, continues to intensify efforts to address these security concerns while urging public vigilance and cooperation.

Stronger Anti-Espionage Law urged

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros called for the immediate enhancement of the country’s Anti-Espionage Law following the arrest of a suspected Chinese spy.

In a statement, Hontiveros reiterated concerns about the presence of Chinese spies in the country, particularly criticizing the controversial Visa Upon Arrival (VUA) scheme that enables Chinese nationals to enter the Philippines “without proper immigration checks”.

“The Senate must immediately enhance our existing Anti-Espionage Law. While China’s monster ship keeps returning to the West Philippine Sea, our government must ensure we are not surrounded by spies,” Hontiveros said in a mix of English and Filipino.

She also recalled her Senate panel’s investigation into Guo, whom the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency identified as an “agent of influence.”

“I trust that the DND (Department of National Defense), along with other relevant agencies, is on top of this matter. We must take this seriously to safeguard our national security, interests, and sovereignty,” Hontiveros added.

Beijing denies spy allegations

China, however, denied sending a spy to the Philippines after authorities arrested Chinese national Deng Yuanqing and two Filipinos in possession of espionage equipment.

In a statement on January 22, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning dismissed the claims, emphasizing that the Chinese government always requires its overseas citizens to comply with local laws and regulations.

“We urge the Philippines to base (statements) on facts, stop making false claims and hyping up so-called Chinese spies, and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines,” she said.

The 39-year-old Chinese national was reportedly found with locator and mapping devices capable of pinpointing coordinates with centimeter-level accuracy. Investigators also revealed that he had been living in the Philippines for over five years and is married to a Filipina.

Equipment seized from the spying suspects’ vehicle, displayed at the January 20 press conference.

Another underwater drone found

On January 22, the AFP announced an investigation into the sighting of an unidentified underwater drone off the coast of Bohol province.

“The AFP, through the Visayas Command, has prioritized the investigation into the reported discovery of unidentified equipment floating at sea,” AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad. 

He acknowledged the AFP’s current lack of forensic equipment for analysis, urging the discoverer to contact local military or naval units for proper handling.

This discovery marks the fifth reported sighting of a submersible drone in the country over the past year. Authorities believe a previous underwater drone recovered in Masbate last December originated from China, according to a Philippine National Police investigation.

Persistent Chinese presence in Philippine waters

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues to monitor and radio-challenge Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the West Philippine Sea, particularly near Panatag (Scarborough Shoal).

On Wednesday night, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela reported that the BRP Cabra had replaced the BRP Suluan to confront Chinese vessels operating illegally in Philippine waters.

He said shortly after the PCG vessel arrived, the CCG vessel 3304 approached, signaling a potential challenge to the PCG’s increased presence. “This indicates that the CCG may anticipate the PCG deploying two vessels in response,” Tarriela told journalists in a Viber message. 

Personnel aboard the BRP Cabra flagged the CCG vessels for violating Philippine sovereignty and international maritime law, including the 2016 arbitral award affirming the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“Despite challenging sea conditions, the courageous men and women aboard BRP Cabra remain committed to safeguarding Philippine maritime rights and enforcing the rule of law while maintaining a stance of non-provocation,” Tarriela concluded.

All photos credit: Armed Forces of the Philippines/Department of Justice

Top photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. (second from left), Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla (middle), and National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago (second from right) at the January 20 press conference, where the suspected Chinese spy and two Filipino accomplices were presented to the media.

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