MANILA – Chinese ‘sleeper agents’—individuals allegedly planted in the Philippines years ago who now lead seemingly normal lives, build professional careers, and even hold positions in strategic offices including the government—are reportedly on a covert mission to influence the 2028 Philippine national and local elections.

This claim was made by security analyst Professor Chester Cabalza, founder and president of the International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC), during the recent Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

He said the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, as well as illegal gambling operations, are among the reasons for the presence of several Chinese assets in the country. More significantly, he noted that these operatives are closely studying local politics. Cabalza added that sleeper agents may already be gathering relevant information on the country’s political landscape as part of their mission.

“Naturally, ang mission naman talaga nila intindihin ang pulitika natin. Para madali sa kanila kung paano impluwensyahan tayo at makuha ang loob ng mga Pilipino. They stay here not only looking at the strategic implications in the West Philippine Sea but at the same time, this is strategic foresight… for the upcoming 2028 presidential elections,” Cabalza said.

These sleeper agents might be posing as tourists or students and appear to be ordinary people, he said. Some spies reportedly speak Filipino and join Chinese Filipino communities to assimilate and integrate into critical institutions.

“Let us admit na ang Pilipinas kasi is very democratic. We allow everyone to go to the country. They come in different forms… they look similar like us… they look like us. What I can say is, they are all over our country,” he said.

Cabalza also emphasized that these agents may be using substantial funds to influence elections and facilitate the assumption of certain individuals into government posts.

“They will pour out campaign funds para maimpluwensiyahan ‘yung foreign and security policies natin,” he said.

In the same forum, Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the West Philippine Sea, shared that the military is coordinating with law enforcement agencies to monitor alleged spying activities.

“Ang Navy… AFP… ay kasama sa monitoring with other law enforcement agencies for possible foreigners na kumukuha ng information through legal means in the country… There were already incidents in the past, that the AFP in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies ay nakatulong naman sa paghuli sa foreign nationals who are allegedly involved in espionage,” Trinidad said.

The National Security Council (NSC) earlier stated there were signs of Chinese influence in the Philippines’ 2025 midterm elections.

During a Senate hearing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson alleged that Chinese sleeper agents and operatives from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are already conducting espionage operations in the country.

He cited reports of Chinese nationals arrested for suspected espionage in areas including Palawan, Makati, and Dumaguete, as well as near critical locations such as Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, the Commission on Elections office, and Malacañang in Manila.

He also noted that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had arrested 19 foreign nationals in at least six operations for suspected espionage. Of these, 13 were Chinese, five were Filipinos, and one was Cambodian.

📷 Saturday News Forum