Manila: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has disclosed that a Chinese national, accused of conducting espionage activities targeting crucial military and civilian infrastructure in the Philippines, has been traveling in and out of the country since 2015. The BI has forwarded the details of the alleged spy to relevant government agencies to aid in ongoing investigations.

According to Philippines News Agency, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado confirmed that the 39-year-old Chinese national, who is married to a Filipina, has been under scrutiny. The BI has shared pertinent information with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to support their efforts in uncovering the extent of the espionage activities.

Commissioner Viado emphasized that no deportation proceedings would be initiated against the Chinese national until all local legal responsibilities and penalties have been addressed. He further stated the importance of identifying any foreign collaborators assisting the suspect within the country, asserting that such individuals have no place in the administration's vision for a renewed Philippines and will face severe consequences for their actions.

Initial findings revealed that the Chinese national, identified as Deng Yuanqing, along with two Filipino accomplices, Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jason Amado Fernandez, were involved in surveillance operations using a vehicle equipped with espionage devices. The operation focused on key civilian and military sites, raising concerns about the potential threat to national security.

The trio was apprehended by the NBI on January 17 at a condominium in Makati City. Among the confiscated items was a Toyota Rav4 SUV, which served as a mobile unit outfitted with locator and mapping technology capable of pinpointing coordinates with extreme precision.

Both the NBI and the Armed Forces of the Philippines highlighted the military implications of the seized equipment, noting its potential use in artillery and missile guidance systems, as well as assessing vehicle traffic capacities in surveilled areas, including sites designated for military exercises and those under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).