Año urges ‘caution’ over job offers, as PH probe into Chinese spy efforts continue

MANILA, Philippines — National Security Adviser Eduardo Año called on Filipinos, especially those in government, to be “cautious” of job offers that Chinese nationals use as a means to recruit spies. 

In a three-part series, Rappler reported on three Filipinos apprehended by Philippine security agents for sending sensitive information related to the country’s defense and security agencies and plans to foreign nationals who have since been identified as Chinese. 

At least one of those foreign nationals visited the Philippines in December 2024 to meet with his asset, a Filipino who has close ties to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel based in Palawan. 

The National Security Council (NSC) said in a March 4 statement that the spying operation has since been “terminated.” Año said on March 6 that the threat of espionage — through the recruitment of people in or close to security and defense agencies –– persists. 

“Always. Parating meron silang gagawing effort para makapag-recruit ng source at insider sa ating pamahalaan. Kaya nananawagan tayo sa ating mga kababayan, na dapat mapag-bantay kayo. Tingnan ‘nyo ‘yung mga job offer na sinasabi, diyan ‘yan magsisimula hanggang sa mapunta ka sa isang sitwayson na ginagawa kang spy at traydor ka na sa ating bansa,” Año said in a chance interview with reporters on Friday, March 6.

(There will always be efforts [by the Chinese] to recruit sources and insiders from government. So we are calling on our countrymen to be cautious. Be critical of these supposed job offers because that’s how it starts, until you find yourself in a situation where you’ve been turned into a spy and a traitor to your own country.) 

All three of the Filipino nationals were recruited via social media –– either through self-identified headhunters or through a close friend –– for “consultancies.” At first, they were only asked to write analyses or op-eds based on open-source information. 

As time passed, the three were eventually convinced or pressured into sending sensitive information and documents –– from basing details, maritime missions, and even engagements with bilateral partners — to their foreign agents. 

Rappler also spoke to a Navy officer who a foreign agent, whom security sources said had links to Chinese nationals, also tried to recruit. The officer, however, cut ties after he was asked to write about his interactions with American counterparts. 

Año said that even as investigations were still ongoing, the country’s security agencies would make sure that “no espionage effort in the Philippines” would succeed. 

The top security chief, himself a former Philippine military chief, also reminded government workers to immediately report to their superiors, should they encounter recruitment attempts themselves. 

Año declined to respond to the Chinese embassy in Manila’s blanket denial of the NSC’s findings. “It’s expected for the Chinese embassy to say something like that. In many cases, the embassies are not involved because the operations are controlled by different [agencies], even directly by Beijing,” he said. – Rappler.com