Security expert warns vs. Chinese sleeper agents influencing 2028 polls

A security analyst on Saturday warned that Chinese sleeper agents who are already in the country could be working to influence the 2028 presidential elections.

Professor Chester Cabalza, founder and president of International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC), said the sleeper agents' purpose is to understand the country's political landscape.

"Para madali sa kanila kung paano impluwensyahan tayo at makuha ang loob ng mga Pilipino (So it could be easier for them to influence us and gain the trust of Filipinos). They stay here not only looking at the strategic implications in the West PH Sea but at the same time, this is strategic foresight… for the upcoming 2028 presidential elections," Cabalza said at a news forum in Quezon City.

Early this week, Senator Panfilo Lacson alleged that Chinese sleeper agents and operatives from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) are already in the Philippines for spying purposes.

To recall, the National Security Council (NSC) had said last April that there were indications that China interfered with the Philippines' 2025 midterm elections.

Malacañang expressed alarm over this pronouncement by the NSC, saying the reported interference would be investigated.

The Palace said Friday the NSC was already intensifying its measures in addressing threats to national security amid concerns arising from the presence of Chinese sleeper agents. 

"Let us admit na ang Pilipinas kasi is very democratic (Let us admit that the Philippines is very democratic), we allow everyone to go to the country. They come in different forms... They look similar like us, they look like us. What I can say is, they are all over our country," Cabalza said.

For his part, Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Armed Forces of the Philippines' spokesperson for the West Philippine, said the military is coordinating with law enforcement agencies in monitoring alleged spying activities in the country.

"Navy at AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) ay kasama sa monitoring with other law enforcement agencies for possible foreigners na kumukuha ng information through legal means in the country… There were already incidents in the past, that AFP in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies ay nakatulong naman sa paghuli sa foreign nationals who are allegedly involved in espionage," Trinidad said.

(The Navy and AFP, along with other law enforcement agencies, are monitoring possible foreigners who are legally obtaining information in the country... There were already incidents in the past that the AFP, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, assisted in the capture of foreigners who are allegedly involved in espionage.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News