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The Philippine flag hoisted at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal part of the disputed Spratly Islands. Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News/File

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The Philippine flag hoisted at the BRP Sierra Madre 

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17732074823331773207481871.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Philippine flag hoisted at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal part of the disputed Spratly Islands. Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Philippine flag hoisted at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal part of the disputed Spratly Islands. <em>Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) said sensitive information regarding personnel deployed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre may have been compromised following the discovery of espionage operations and foreign-directed malign activities in the country connected to the People’s Republic of China.</div><p>According to AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the information targeted by foreign-linked recruiters included operational data related to activities in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;This will cover operational data for the West Philippine Sea. This will include plans of the Philippine Navy for modernization and strategic basing,&quot; Trinidad told defense reporters on Tuesday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/9/nsc-afp-monitoring-alleged-filipino-spies-working-for-foreigners-1800">NSC, AFP monitoring alleged Filipino spies working for foreigners</a></div><p>Three Filipinos earlier apprehended by authorities have confessed their complicity in the espionage activities and are now cooperating with investigators.</p><p>Among the information reportedly requested were details about the personnel deployed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.</p><p>“One of the questions asked by the gentleman who had links to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was the identity of the personnel deployed aboard BRP Sierra Madre and the other features in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad said.</p><p>The official acknowledged the sensitivity of such information, noting that it could potentially expose troops stationed in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“There are different uses for the information that they would like to derive from our people. These actions could be detrimental. This could put the lives of our men and women at risk, especially those conducting the RORE [rotation and resupply missions], and we don&#x27;t want this to happen,” Trinidad added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>THREE SUSPECTS UNDER AFP CONTROL</strong></div><p> The three Filipinos involved in the case are currently under AFP control. The military, however, declined to disclose further details about their status.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/3/8/gaming-app-used-as-mode-of-communication-by-spies-official-1826">Gaming app used as mode of communication by spies – official</a></div><p>The AFP also declined to discuss ongoing efforts to track down the spy network’s handlers.</p><p>“Any subsequent operations arising out of this accomplishment that are still considered active cases, we will not divulge considering that they are still operational matters,” Trinidad noted.</p><div> </div><div><strong>RECRUITMENT THROUGH ONLINE JOB OFFERS</strong> </div><p>Authorities said the individuals involved were young Filipinos between their mid-20s and late 20s, who were initially contacted through job applications posted online.</p><p>“They were applying for jobs. They posted their resumes online. Somebody contacted them and requested that they submit articles in as much as they are being recruited to be analysts or researchers. That&#x27;s where everything started,” Trinidad said.</p><p>He continued, “I would like to say that there is compensation—financial compensation for this, from four to six digits.”</p><p>According to Trinidad, the individuals later realized how the information they provided could affect Philippine operations in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“What was mentioned by ‘Danny’—as published in the article—is that based on the information he gave, it resulted to the harassment of one of the Coast Guard ships in Sabina Shoal. The damage incurred made him remorseful nung nakita niya na malaki ang tama ng barko na ito sa Sabina Shoal. He thought na pwedeng may masaktan o may mamatay na kaibigan niya na nasa Coast Guard,” the official said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM’ STRENGTHENED, MAY BE EXPANDED</strong></div><p>Authorities uncovered and disrupted the activities of the espionage network operating in the country through the Insider Threat Program, which seeks to protect national security sensitive information, capabilities and operations from foreign espionage, coercion, and malicious or negligent compromise.</p><p>“First and foremost, the Insider Threat Program of the AFP, which was launched just after the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense posture mentioned by the SND [Secretary of National Defense] that we will be implementing, has uncovered and stopped espionage activities with the exposure of four of the persons who were involved: Three of them have been approached and they cooperated. They are now under the control of the AFP. The fourth one, a Philippine Navy officer, refused the offer given to him,” Trinidad told reporters.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/10/afp-china-linked-espionage-in-ph-part-of-growing-global-intelligence-trend-1605">AFP: China-linked espionage in PH part of growing global intelligence trend</a></div><p>He went on, “I would like to highlight that number one, the Insider Threat Program is working as manifested by these accomplishments. Number two, it is continually being evaluated and enhanced. Number three, there is a need for legislation to give us the right tools to be able to address threats like this.”</p><p>The official also stressed that the Insider Threat Program is being strengthened and may be expanded beyond the AFP.</p><p>“The Insider Threat Program is working,” Trinidad said. “We are now looking at expanding this through the National Security Council (NSC) to involve other government agencies considering that as we modernize, as the country itself modernizes, we need to be able to protect not only our information, but more importantly, the way we do things and the cognitive domain of the Filipino people.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fRv4O6WVV8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AlZa8jKY1_U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Armed Forces of the Philippine said sensitive information regarding personnel deployed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre may have been compromised following the discovery of espionage operations and foreign-directed malign activities in the country connected to China.</p>

The Armed Forces of the Philippine said sensitive information regarding personnel deployed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre may have been compromised following the discovery of espionage operations and foreign-directed malign activities in the country connected to China.

AFP says BRP Sierra Madre personnel data may have been compromised

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AFP says BRP Sierra Madre personnel data may have been compromised

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 11, 2026 01:52 PM PHT

Read More:

BRP Sierra Madre

Espionage

China

Armed Forces of the Philippines

West Philippine Sea

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