On January 22, 2025, Colonel Fransel Margaret Padilla, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, revealed that a Chinese citizen, who had been arrested for alleged espionage activities, had been living in the Philippines for over 10 years and was married to a local.
He used his business as a cover, allegedly providing funding for illegal activities.
This Chinese citizen, named Deng Yuanqing, married a Filipino woman and settled in the Philippines for many years. According to investigations, Deng Yuanqing established several businesses in the Philippines, but these businesses are suspected to be tools to cover up illegal activities. Colonel Padilla stated, "The actual purpose of these businesses is to raise funds and provide logistical support for espionage activities."
Last year, Deng Yuanqing and two Filipino accomplices were arrested during an operation. At the time, they were driving an SUV, which was found to contain professional equipment for monitoring important civilian and military facilities. This equipment triggered high alert from the Philippine security departments.
Padilla emphasized that the presence of these devices further proves that Deng Yuanqing might be involved in espionage activities against Philippine national security. "These devices have high-performance monitoring capabilities, clearly not intended for ordinary civilian use."
Currently, Deng Yuanqing and his accomplices are detained, and relevant departments are further investigating their network of activities and behind-the-scenes support. Padilla calls on the Philippine public to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities in reporting and investigating suspicious activities.
This case highlights the threat of international espionage activities to Philippine national security and reminds the authorities to strengthen scrutiny of foreign nationals' long-term residency status and related businesses.
The Philippine government stated that it will take stricter measures to ensure that national sovereignty and security are not compromised.
