MANILA — Philippine authorities have arrested another suspected foreign spy, underscoring growing concerns about espionage activities in the country.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that a Chinese national identified as Zhi Ling Guan, 47, was apprehended at Batangas Port on February 20 after allegedly posing as a Filipino citizen using a fake driver’s license under the name “Mike Sy.”

According to BI officials, Guan’s true identity was discovered after his fingerprints were cross-matched with records in the Land Transportation Office (LTO) database. “After the fingerprints were cross-matched, his actual photo was found. Once that photo was seen, it turned out that he was the same person,” LTO chief Markus Lacanilao explained.

Authorities said Guan had been in the Philippines since 2017, though details of his activities remain undisclosed. His arrest follows a series of similar cases involving foreign nationals suspected of intelligence operations. Just days earlier, a Mongolian national was detained in Zambales after being tagged as an undesirable alien with alleged ties to espionage.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has warned of a “persistent pattern” of espionage in the country, particularly amid heightened maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, said recent arrests in Zambales, Bohol, and Batangas point to a trend of foreign operatives embedding themselves in local communities.

The BI stressed that Guan’s case will undergo further investigation, with possible deportation proceedings depending on the outcome. Meanwhile, security officials are calling for tighter monitoring of foreign nationals, especially those using fraudulent documents to conceal their identities.

These developments highlight the Philippines’ growing vulnerability to espionage, as authorities grapple with balancing national security concerns and the influx of foreign nationals entering the country for business, education, and tourism. The government has vowed to strengthen intelligence coordination to prevent similar incidents in the future.