State media published images of three Chinese spies. Photo: CCTVChina said on Thursday it had detained three Filipinos on suspicion of espionage, a week after Manila arrested five Chinese nationals on espionage charges.
It is unusual for China to give details of five countries on espionage charges, but on Thursday state broadcaster CCTV published images of the three men questioned by police, along with their names.
State news agency Xinhua identified the three as David Cervantes, Albert Endencia and Natalie Plisardo and said they were recruited by a spy named Richie Herrera – whose whereabouts are unknown.
It follows a series of arrests of alleged Chinese spies in the Philippines. Last week, authorities said they had arrested five Chinese nationals, a Cambodian and a Filipino on charges of spying on American and Philippine warships at the Subic Bay naval base.
Authorities said the suspects were posing as fishermen transporting bait while flying high-tech drones to monitor the vessels.
In January, five people were arrested on suspicion of posing as Taiwanese tourists to spy on the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy on the island of Palawan.
That same month, Philippine security forces arrested a Chinese national and two Filipino accomplices accused of mapping more than 120 key locations in Luzon, including ports and military bases. (SCMP)
