Chinese engineer, 2 Filipinos nabbed for espionage targeting PH security

/ 04:23 PM January 20, 2025

MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), has arrested suspected a Chinese “sleeper agent” involved in espionage activities targeting military and police installations, as well as critical Philippine infrastructure.

The arrested individual, identified as Deng Yuanqing, is a technical software engineer connected with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). NBI Director Jaime Santiago said Deng studied at the PLA-controlled University of Science and Technology in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Deng specializes in control engineering and automation systems.

Article continues after this advertisement

Also arrested along with Deng were his Filipino cohorts, Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jason Amado Fernandez.

FEATURED STORIES

READ: AFP wants China to pay P60M for June 17 attack

Article continues after this advertisement

The suspects were arrested last Friday in Makati.

Article continues after this advertisement

“I think he has been in the country for five years or more already…And we believe that he can be dubbed as a ‘sleeper’ because, through our monitoring, he was acting just like an ordinary person,” said NBI Cybercrime Division and the Special Task Force (STF) Atty. Jeremy Lotoc.

Article continues after this advertisement

They used a Toyota Rav4 equipped with advanced espionage devices, including tools for data collection and transmission.

Among the equipment recovered was a GNSS RPK Global Navigation Satellite System, capable of generating 3D images of target structures.

Article continues after this advertisement

“These devices were used to survey critical infrastructure such as military camps, LGU offices, power plants, police camps, and even shopping malls,” Lotoc said.

He added: “As of the moment, we were able to establish that they are engaged in ISR operations, meaning intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, to the prejudice of our national defense considering that their targets are mostly critical infrastructures connected to national security.”

Lotoc said aside from military and police camps, power plants, and malls, the suspects also frequented Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites.

“Basically, they are collecting data, and they have a remote application which, in real-time, transmits outside. This application has a user who is based remotely outside of the country and collects the data by the suspected Chinese spy,” Lotoc said.

READ: NBI arrests 5 Pinoys offering bribe to free 12 Chinese

AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. said the information collected from the suspects is “very dangerous” if it falls into the hands of another country’s military.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Meanwhile, Lotoc said when they checked the suspects’ mobile phones, they saw deposit slips of P1.5 million a week.

The three are facing complaints of Espionage under Section 1 (A) and 2 (A) of Commonwealth Act No. 616 in relation to Republic Act 10175, The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

TAGS: China

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2025 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.