MANILA: The Philippines’ top security official said more people are being probed after authorities apprehended three Filipino nationals for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Beijing, including data on Manila’s operations in the disputed South China Sea.
"There are other cases that we’re investigating,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano (pic) told reporters on Friday (March 6).
The three suspects - an assistant at the nation’s defence department, a researcher at the Philippine Navy, and a person close to a Philippine Coast Guard officer - acted at the behest of China, according to National Security Council Assistant Director General Cornelio Valencia Jr. Año declined to identify the suspects nor say whether they were charged.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila pushed back against what it calls "fabricated” allegations by the Philippine side.
"We firmly oppose and strongly deplore irresponsible remarks made by certain Philippine agencies peddling so-called ‘Chinese spy’ narratives,” the embassy said in a statement late on Thursday.
"China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. Such accusations are malicious smears against China and yet another attempt to hype up the so-called ‘China threat’ rhetoric,’” it added.
Ano said no top secret information was disclosed, but sensitive information, including the schedules of resupply missions to Philippine military outposts in the South China Sea and internal conversations were leaked.
Beijing and Manila have been locked in a longstanding territorial dispute over the resource-rich waterway.
The Philippines has said that Chinese coast guard vessels have previously fired water cannons and rammed Manila’s vessels engaged in resupply missions in the contested waters.
The Philippine Coast Guard is looking into the possibility that other officers and their relatives may have been involved in leaking classified information, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said. Tarriela said he believes the three suspects were paid a "sizeable” amount of money, but didn’t disclose by who.
Año called on Filipinos, especially government personnel, to be vigilant about job offers that could lead them to "a situation where you are made to be a spy and you become a traitor to our country.” - Bloomberg
