MANILA — Operational data on the West Philippine Sea, including modernization and strategic basing plans of the Philippine Navy, was reportedly compromised in an alleged espionage case involving some Filipinos, the Navy said.

“This will cover operational data for the West Philippine Sea. This will include plans of the Philippine Navy for modernization and strategic basing,” said Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad during a press briefing.

The National Security Council of the Philippines (NSC) said some information about the country’s resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea may have been leaked and passed to Chinese intelligence agents.

It added that three Filipinos had been apprehended and “there could be more,” but the agency declined to confirm whether charges would be filed.

Trinidad said the compromised information is classified.

“Yes, these are classified considering the positions of the concerned personnel at the lower level of the plantilla hierarchy, their access to information is limited to those only classified,” he said.

The Navy also said the alleged motive for the three Filipinos’ spying activities was financial, involving substantial salaries and bonuses from their handlers.

“They are from the age range of mid 20s to late 20s. They were applying for jobs. They posted their resumes online. Somebody contacted them and requested that they submit articles as much as they are being recruited to be analysts or researchers,” Trinidad said.

“That’s where everything started. And I would like to say that there is compensation, financial compensation for this from four to six digits.”

The three individuals are currently in the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Trinidad said the alleged espionage reflects a broader global trend.

“This is a global trend by the Chinese Communist Party to get information from discreet or surreptitious means. Meaning to say, not through open sources, not through established channels of information sharing,” he said.

“This will allow the Chinese Communist Party number one to be able to prepare their capabilities to be able to advance their capabilities beyond other countries.”

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has denied involvement in the alleged espionage.