Rowegie Abanto

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THUMBNAIL-CYBER

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><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/YX7OpVnYnEc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>MANILA — “Danny” was in his mid-20s, a fresh graduate from the province, living what he described as a quiet, ordinary life. But when his small business began to fail, desperation pushed him to look for work—any work.</p><p>In 2024, he found one.</p><p>Posing as a member of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Danny applied for an online job as a “military consultant” with what presented itself as a United States-based media company.</p><p>The work seemed simple: provide information about the PCG. At first, it meant nothing more than gathering publicly available data online. Having a longtime friend in the PCG made it even easier.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/20/filipino-civilian-details-covert-communications-in-alleged-china-linked-spying-1200">Filipino civilian details covert communications in alleged China-linked spying</a></div><p>The setup was entirely remote. Communication was done through messaging apps. Payment came quickly and generously through e-wallet transfers.</p><p>“Binibigyan nila ako ng malaking pera kapalit ng mga katanungan nila,” he told ABS-CBN News in a sit-down interview Thursday.</p><p>(They were giving me large amounts of money in exchange for answering their questions.)</p><p>What started as harmless research soon turned into something else.</p><p>Over time, the requests became more specific, more sensitive. Communication shifted to a gaming app, Tetris, where messages were hidden in coded exchanges using a phone provided by his handler.</p><p>Eager to please and keep the money flowing, Danny crossed a line.</p><p>He hacked into his friend’s Messenger account and accessed restricted information: details about Philippine missions in the West Philippine Sea and foreign visits in Palawan.</p><p>At the time, he believed he was helping a media outfit stay ahead of the news cycle.</p><p>He did not realize he was already working as a spy for China.</p><p>Danny was apprehended by the military in 2025. He is now under “military control,” along with two other Filipinos allegedly involved in similar activities—a Department of National Defense staff member and a Philippine Navy researcher.</p><p>“Kasi ang idea ko is media. So, ang media talaga is nag-uunahan ‘yan kung sino ang unang makakakuha ng balita,” Danny said.</p><p>(My idea was that it was media work. In media, it’s about who gets the news first.)</p><p>“Ang iniisip ko lang no’n is ibabalita nila na merong ganito sa Palawan, merong ganyan.”</p><p>(I thought they would just report that something was happening in Palawan, things like that.)</p><div> </div><div><strong>ESCODA TRAGEDY</strong></div><div> </div><p>The turning point came on August 19, 2024.</p><p>During a Philippine resupply mission, two PCG patrol ships were rammed and damaged in a confrontation with China Coast Guard ships near Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.</p><p>For Danny, it was more than just another headline—it felt personal. He believed the information he had passed on played a role.</p><p>“Naibigay ko ‘yong eksaktong alis ng barko noong araw na ‘yon,” he said.</p><p>(I gave the exact departure time of the ship that day.)</p><p>“‘Bakit niyo binangga ‘to?’ Nagalit na ako no’n kasi hindi ko naman in-expect nila ‘yon.”</p><p>(‘Why did you ram it?’ I got angry because I never expected they would do that.)</p><p>“Doon na ako nakaramdam na parang mali. Naramdaman ko na rin ‘yong takot na may mga kaibigan ako doon, paano kung may namatay?”</p><p>(That’s when I felt something was wrong. I was afraid. I have friends there, what if someone died?)</p><p>Shaken, Danny cut off communication with his handler. But the contact did not end there.</p><div><a 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>His handler, who identified himself only as “Peter,” tried to placate him with more money.</p><p>They eventually met in person in December 2024.</p><p>“Nagkita kami nito ni Peter noong December 2024, pumunta siya dito sa Pilipinas, nag-usap kami. Then nakita ko na doon ‘yong mukha niya, na Chinese siya,” he said.</p><p>(We met in December 2024. He came here to the Philippines, we talked. That’s when I saw his face—that he was Chinese.)</p><div><iframe width="827" height="465" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_FBJ0X0IjNM" title="Filipino spies leaked classified, confidential info to Chinese handlers - PH Navy | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><div><strong>SHADOWS BEHIND</strong></div><div> </div><p>By early 2025, fear had set in.</p><p>Danny began noticing people he believed were following him. He knew it was only a matter of time before he would be caught.</p><p>When he informed Peter, the response only deepened his anxiety.</p><p>“Sinabi niya na ‘Meron akong tao na pupunta, kukunin ka,’” he recounted.</p><p>(He said, ‘I have someone who will come and get you.’)</p><p>“Natakot ako… baka patahimikin ako.”</p><p>(I got scared… I thought they might silence me.)</p><p>By mid-2025, the military closed in.</p><p>“Nagulat ako pero tanggap ko na na anytime mahuhuli na ako kasi may mga sumusunod na sa akin,” he said.</p><p>(I was surprised, but I had already accepted that I could be arrested anytime because people were already following me.)</p><p>“Kusang loob na akong sumama… nakipag-cooperate ako sa kanila kasi kahit anong gawin ko, wala na rin akong takas eh.”</p><p>(I voluntarily went with them… I cooperated because no matter what I did, I had no escape.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/9/casual-convo-with-pcg-personnel-turns-into-alleged-espionage-case-1302">Casual convo with PCG personnel turns into alleged espionage case</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>LIVING WITH REGRET</strong></div><div> </div><p>Now under “military control,” Danny says regret has become a constant companion.</p><p>“Malungkot dahil ‘yong dating buhay ko, hindi na katulad dati,” he said.</p><p>(It’s sad because my life is no longer what it used to be.)</p><p>From a simple provincial life, he now lives under constant uncertainty and fear.</p><div> </div><div><strong>TIP OF THE ICEBERG</strong></div><div> </div><p>The Philippine Navy believes Danny’s case is far from isolated.</p><p>“I would say that this is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad. “The threat is real, it is a clear and present danger. Hindi ito gawa-gawa.”</p><p>(This is not fabricated.)</p><p>Authorities are now working to map out the extent of the network.</p><p>“The effort right now is to determine the extent of affectation, to look at the extent of the network that we have just uncovered,” Trinidad said.</p><p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the discovery of the alleged spies was the result of its Internal Threat Program, part of a broader push to strengthen defenses amid shifting priorities toward external threats under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).</p><div> </div><div><strong>CHINA DENIES</strong></div><div> </div><div><iframe width="726" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AlZa8jKY1_U" title="China responds to Philippines&#x27; latest &#x27;Chinese spy&#x27; allegations | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The Chinese Embassy in Manila has rejected the allegations, reiterating its policy of non-interference.</p><p>“Peddling the so-called ‘Chinese spy’ narrative has long been a tactic used to hype up the ‘China threat’ rhetoric, smear China and undermine China-Philippines relations,” it said in a statement.</p><p>Trinidad dismissed the denial.</p><p>“What do you expect? Aaminin nila?” he said.</p><p>(What do you expect? Will they admit it?)</p><p>“Pangalawa, for all we know, they don&#x27;t know anything. This could be run by the Ministry of of Security Services from mainland China. So we don&#x27;t expect them to admit anything,” he said.</p>

<p>A Filipino civilian who admitted involvement in espionage activities linked to China faced ABS-CBN News and disclosed how he obtained and transmitted sensitive information from the Philippine Coast Guard to a foreign handler.</p>

A Filipino civilian who admitted involvement in espionage activities linked to China faced ABS-CBN News and disclosed how he obtained and transmitted sensitive information from the Philippine Coast Guard to a foreign handler.

The spy next door: How a job offer turned a Filipino into an unwitting asset

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The spy next door: How a job offer turned a Filipino into an unwitting asset

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 20, 2026 03:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Chinese Spy

Philippine Coast Guard

China

West Philippine Sea

Military

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