NSA Año: No top-secret data leaked amid alleged espionage activities

Alleged espionage activities may have accessed schedules of West Philippine Sea missions but no top-secret information was compromised, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said Friday.

“May mga sensitive information pero hindi naman ganyan kataas. Walang anumang top secret information,” Año said in an ambush interview.

(There is sensitive information but it is not that high. There is no top secret information.)

“Sabihin natin na may ibang sensitive katulad noong sa schedule ng mga [rotation and resupply mission] before, may mga ibang usapan na within internal, pero walang damage sa atin,” he added.

(Let’s say there is some other sensitive information like in the schedule of rotation and resupply missions before, there are other discussions within internal, but there is no damage to us.)

Año called on government personnel and members of the security sector to immediately report any recruitment attempts by foreign entities to their superiors amid possible espionage in other agencies.

Three Filipinos were detained for alleged Chinese-linked espionage. They previously worked in the Department of National Defense, Philippine Navy, and had close access to a Philippine Coast Guard member.

PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said, “the information that was leaked basically talks about our operations in the WPS, particularly the resupply operation in the previous years.”

He clarified that the individual linked to the leak is not a PCG officer or civilian employee but only close to a personnel.

“The investigation is still ongoing and the subject individual is cooperative to the NSC and to all those means for us to investigate further,” Tarriela said in an ambush interview.

“I think the main consideration that we need right now as an adjustment is to have a more secure way in handling the information with regard to our operations in the WPS,” he added. 

Former Navy personnel

In a phone patch interview, Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad also confirmed that a former Navy personnel was linked to espionage activities.

“Ang pinag-uusapan natin, yung isang tao lang, coming from DND, isang researcher from DND. And then may nag-open sa Navy na mas mataas yung salary grade, so lumipat sa Philippine Navy,” Trinidad said.

(What we're talking about is just one person, coming from DND, a researcher from DND. And then some positions opened up in the Navy with a higher salary grade, so they moved to the Philippine Navy.)

Modus operandi

The modus operandi for the espionage activities was very subtle, according to the Philippine Navy official. Mostly fresh graduates were offered employment as analysts in job search platforms online.

“So may kokontak sa kanila, would you like to work for..as we are a consulting firm, you will be a columnist or analyst ka et cetera. Could you submit to us your example of your write-up o yung output mo,” he said.

(So someone will contact them, would you like to work for..as we are a consulting firm, you will be a columnist or analyst et cetera. Could you submit to us your example of your write-up or your output.)

“Then, pag-submit ‘yan before you know it, they will slowly tell you what to write about. And may financial consideration ito. If they like what you are writing, may papadala silang pera. Through GCash or yung other electronic means of transferring,” he added.

(Then, after submitting that before you know it, they will slowly tell you what to write about. And there is a financial consideration to this. If they like what you are writing, they will send money. Through GCash or the other electronic means of transferring.)

The Navy official said that the sensitivity of information compromised varied depending on the individual’s access. Some information can be advantageous to foreign adversaries, including in operations in the WPS, he added.

According to Trinidad, the concerned Navy personnel is now under control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and cooperating with authorities. 

Lifestyle and loyalty checks continue across the AFP to identify indicators of potential insider threats, Trinidad said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News