‘More arrests coming after 2 suspected Chinese spies nabbed’
![More arrests after 2 suspected Chinese spies nabbed - Malaya](https://globalnation.inquirer.net/files/2024/03/Assistant-Director-General-Jonathan-Malaya-of-of-the-National-Security-Council-06march2024-02-620x349.jpeg)
Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya of of the National Security Council (Arnel Tacson, INQUIRER.net file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — More arrests will come in the following days after two suspected Chinese spies, who claimed to be tourists in Palawan, were caught taking videos and photos of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels in the province.
National Security Council and National Task Force West Philippine Sea spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said this when asked about the arrest of the two Chinese nationals.
“What I can say right now is there will be more arrests and these include what happened there in Palawan because we have ramped up our counterintelligence efforts,” Malaya said during a forum in Quezon City.
Article continues after this advertisement“And because of that, we’re slowly unraveling the conspiracy of this operation being done by foreign actors to conduct espionage in the Philippines. We don’t want to preempt the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice but yes we are aware of it, in fact, we are part of the team looking into this,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementAsked if the case is connected to the sleeper agent who was recently apprehended by the authorities for his reported involvement in espionage activities, Malaya said they are still looking into it.
He, however, pointed out that the cellular phone and pieces of equipment confiscated from the two alleged Chinese spies indicate that “they are a group,”
“If makahanap tayo ng ebidensya na connected sila we will make a necessary announcement,” Malaya revealed.
(If we find evidence that they are connected, we will make a necessary announcement.)
“There will be more, mas marami sa dalawa ang nasa radar natin karamihan ng arrest natin ay galing sa tip ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
(There will be more arrests, we have more than two on our radar. Many of our arrests came from tips from concerned citizens.)