AFP stands by espionage allegations vs Chinese national

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines is not buying the claims of innocence from the wife of a recently arrested Chinese national accused of espionage, citing recovered data containing detailed surveillance of hundreds of military installations and critical infrastructure sites across the country.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said on Tuesday, January 28, that while they acknowledge the appeals from the suspect's family, their investigation must remain focused on concrete evidence. 

 "Looking at the recovered equipment, the contents cannot be altered. The servers contain maps of critical infrastructures, salient features like military camps. So what would they be doing with data on military camps, PNP camps, and critical infrastructures?" Padilla said.

The military's firm stance comes after the Chinese national's Filipino wife faced the media on Monday, January 27, to defend him against allegations that he is a spy from China. 

The suspected spy's wife, Noemi Deng, said her husband, Deng Yuanqing, was a mere road surveyor who worked for a company involved in producing self-driving cars. 

Deng was one of three individuals, including two Filipinos, arrested on Jan. 17. They were found with equipment that authorities said were used to gather data and scan maps at multiple locations across Luzon. 

The three individuals have been charged with espionage and violating Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

While acknowledging Noemi's concerns, Padilla stressed the AFP's commitment to an evidence-based investigation. She also said the matter involves the country's national security. 

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines understands her concern, being of course emotionally involved, being a wife, a mother. But for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we look into the evidence-based results of this investigation, and anything in our power to help in aiding that the truth come out from this, we will do in the AFP," Padilla said.

Padilla also said clandestine activities are expected to be kept under wraps. 

"We have to work with empirical data. We do not work on hearsay, we do not base on opinions," the AFP spokesperson added.

Deng's case remains under investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation. 

China, through its foreign ministry spokesperson, previously called on the Philippines to stop sensationalizing its arrest and allegations of espionage against the Chinese national.