Camille Naredo

Article (news)

THUMBNAIL

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Recently-apprehended spies allegedly used a gaming app as a mode of communication, according to RAdm. Roy Vincent Trinidad.In a Saturday news forum, Trinidad said that a gaming app was used by some spies to pass off sensitive information to their handlers, and so the government of the Philippines could not monitor their conversation. Those apprehended either worked at the Department of National Defense or the Philippine Navy, while one had a connection at the Philippine Coast Guard.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/6/ph-navy-3-filipinos-hired-by-foreign-handlers-for-sensitive-data-on-wps-1649">READ: 3 Filipinos hired by foreign handlers for sensitive data on West PH Sea</a></div>Asked how the system of communication worked, AFP’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the spies enter a prompt or a password to activate the gaming app.  &quot;May special gaming app, tetris, na nandoon naka-embed ang communications nila, may ipa-prompt ka lang dun, ipapasok mo ang password, magiging communication app siya,&quot; Trinidad told reporters. &quot;Specifically designed yung gaming app na yun na naka-embed sa kanya ang communications capability,&quot; he added. This was why the National Security Council (NSC) called on other government agencies to intensify their vetting process, most especially those handling sensitive data. Experts said even government officials occupying higher office could be recruited as &quot;agents of influence,&quot; to influence the creation of laws or policies in government. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/7/some-filipinos-agreed-to-become-spies-for-money-say-nat-l-security-officials-1343">READ: Some Filipinos agreed to become spies for money, say nat’l security officials</a></div>&quot;Hindi lang yan person-focused. We have to establish also mechanisms. Other than teaching and strengthening the person [not] to give in these manipulation, we have for example, non-disclosure acts, clearance systems, background investigations, these are the common things that we do,&quot; said NSC Assistant Director General Cornelio Valencia, Jr.  &quot;But as technology advances, our system also advances,&quot; Valencia added. Ret. RAdm. Rommel Ong, a senior research fellow at the Ateneo School of Government meanwhile said other government agencies should intensify the level of security in some offices.&quot;If ang opisina mo is handling sensitive data  o ang tao sa loob ng opisina mo are persons that are high-value persons, then ang level of security mo ay dapat mas itaas,&quot; Ong said. &quot;That means kailangan ang HR management aspect mo, nag-recruit ka ng tao, mas matindi ang vetting process mo compared sa nag-hire sa isang factory,&quot; he added. AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told ABS-CBN News that authorities continue to probe the spy activities linked to China. Padilla did not directly answer, however, if there are any other incidents being investigated on this. &quot;As I said, this is an operational matter. So we usually give the details as soon as we have more. Kapag meron na tayong solid and conclusive evidences, nilalabas naman natin yan. Part yan ng ating transparency initiative,&quot; she said. The Chinese Embassy in Manila earlier denied the spy allegations, saying they strictly follow the principle of &quot;non-interference&quot; when it comes to other countries’ internal affairs. Aside from the fact that the claims are malicious, they said, this is just a way to destroy their reputation and meant to show that China is a threat to national security.

Recently-apprehended spies allegedly used a gaming app as a mode of communication, according to RAdm. Roy Vincent Trinidad.

Recently-apprehended spies allegedly used a gaming app as a mode of communication, according to RAdm. Roy Vincent Trinidad.

Gaming app used as mode of communication by spies – official

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Gaming app used as mode of communication by spies – official

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 08, 2026 06:26 PM PHT

Read More:

espionage

gaming app

Roy Vincent Trinidad

West Philippine Sea

Philippine Navy

Department of National Defense

National Security Council

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