WPS operational data, modernization plans leaked by spies —PH Navy

Operational data for the West Philippine Sea as well modernization plans were among the information compromised in espionage involving some Filipinos, the Philippine Navy said on Tuesday.

“This will cover operational data for the West Philippine Sea. This will include plans of the Philippine Navy for modernization and strategic basing,” said Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad in a press briefing. 

The National Security Council of the Philippines (NSC) said that some information on the country's resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea was compromised and passed on to Chinese intelligence agents. 

It added that three Filipinos had been apprehended and "there could be more." But the agency declined to say whether charges would be filed.

READ: Filipino ‘spies’ describe how they passed info on WPS missions to China

The Philippine Navy official said that the information leaked is considered classified. 

“Yes, these are classified considering the positions of the concerned personnel at the lower level of the plantilla hierarchy, their access to information is limited to those only classified,” said Trinidad. 

The Philippine Navy earlier said that the motives for the three Filipinos' alleged spying for China were purely financial, supposedly involving hefty salaries and bonuses from their handlers.

Trinidad said that the arrested Filipino “spies” were in their 20s and were looking for jobs then. 

“They are from the age range of mid 20s to late 20s. They were applying for jobs. They posted their resumes online. Somebody contacted them and requested that they submit articles as much as they are being recruited to be analysts or researchers,” he said.

“That's where everything started. And I would like to say that there is compensation, financial compensation for this from four to six digits.” 

The three arrested Filipinos are currently under the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

The Navy official believes that the alleged espionage activities points to a “global trend.”

“This is a global trend by the Chinese Communist Party to get information from discreet or surreptitious means. Meaning to say, not through open sources, not through established channels of information sharing,” said Trinidad. 

“This will allow the Chinese Communist Party number one to be able to prepare their capabilities to be able to advance their capabilities beyond other countries.”  

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has denied that Beijing is connected to the alleged espionage activities. — BM, GMA Integrated News