Three Filipinos, all employed in government uniformed services and allegedly recruited as spies for China, are now cooperating with Philippine authorities, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Security Council (NSC).

NSC spokesperson Adg. Cornelio H. Valencia, Jr., identified the individuals as a Department of National Defense (DND) assistant, a Philippine Navy researcher, and a close aide to a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official involved in West Philippine Sea (WPS) operations.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla reassured the public, saying the exposure of their activities demonstrates the effectiveness of the military’s monitoring and security systems.

“This proves that the system and operations of the military are working,” Padilla said.

Authorities confirmed that the suspects are now cooperating with government investigators. According to the NSC report, the apprehended individuals had collected sensitive information, including personnel rosters and schedules at Philippine-occupied areas in the WPS.

Valencia also noted that Chinese recruiters typically target individuals with access to classified data, relevant technical skills, and workplace grievances that can be exploited.

In response, the NSC and AFP are urging Congress to prioritize updates to the anti-spy laws and to pass the proposed Anti-Foreign Malign Influence and Interference Act, noting that the existing Commonwealth-era law on espionage is limited in scope and only fully enforceable during wartime.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has denied involvement, dismissing the allegations as unfounded.

This case highlights ongoing concerns over foreign espionage and the need to strengthen national security safeguards amid regional tensions in the WPS.