MANILA — National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has confirmed that the Mongolian national arrested in Zambales last week was a trained jet fighter pilot under China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who allegedly hid his military background to enroll as an aviation student in the Philippines.

In a statement released Tuesday, February 17, Año identified the individual as Boldbaatar Bold-Erdene and verified his ties to the Chinese military. Earlier, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) had described him as having a “suspected affiliation to the Chinese government.”

The 30-year-old was arrested on February 12 at an aviation school in Barangay Lipay Dingin, Iba, Zambales.

According to Año, Bold-Erdene held a jet fighter license from the PLA Air Force Aviation University but failed to disclose this when he enrolled as a pilot student at the Zambales academy. The omission, Año said, “constitutes a serious violation of Philippine immigration laws.”

He added that the suspect’s “presence and actions in Zambales near vital military locations are clearly inconsistent with his purpose of stay in the country.”

Immigration records indicate that Bold-Erdene graduated from the Defense University of Mongolia and the Civil Aviation University of China. He also obtained a jet fighter pilot license from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Aviation University and previously served as a soldier with fighter aircraft combat experience.

Aerial photography flagged

The BI said the suspect came under scrutiny after he allegedly conducted aerial photography of Iba Airport and the nearby Palauig River area — about five nautical miles from the airport — during flight training activities.

The arrest was carried out by the BI Intelligence Division–Special Response Team on February 12, with support from the 69th Infantry Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Iba Municipal Police Station, PPO Zambales, CIDG Region 3, RIU 3, PNP Internal Affairs, PRO 3, and other government intelligence units.

The BI labeled Bold-Erdene an “undesirable alien for posing a risk to public interest and safety.”

Año emphasized that while the Philippines remains open to foreign students and aviation trainees, authorities will act decisively against threats to national security.

“any act of misrepresentation, concealment, and activity that compromise national security will be dealt with firmly.”

“Any attempt to exploit our openness, deceive our authorities, or operate against our national interest will be detected, disrupted, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.

He also urged the public to report suspicious activities, particularly unexplained aerial movements near military installations or individuals who may be misrepresenting their identities.

Zambales, located along the western coast of Luzon facing the South China Sea, hosts key military facilities and has been used for joint exercises and operations related to the country’s defense of its claims in the West Philippine Sea.