11-4-2024 (MANILA) In a deeply concerning development, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is investigating reports that Chinese companies, masquerading as Western firms, are allegedly attempting to recruit active and retired military personnel. This disturbing allegation has raised grave national security concerns within the ranks of the AFP.
Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, the AFP’s spokesperson, revealed that the military is collaborating with other government agencies to probe the matter thoroughly. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) had previously issued a warning that firms falsely claiming to be based in the United States or Europe were trying to entice retired and active-duty military members into part-time employment.
According to Padilla, the website used for the online recruitment has been taken down, but the AFP has secured screenshots of comments from individuals expressing interest in applying. An initial investigation into these online accounts has not uncovered any involvement from AFP officers thus far.
“We have been checking, in coordination with other agencies, who is really behind this account and if any personnel divulged military information or if any information has been leaked,” Padilla stated during an interview on PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon programme on Wednesday.
The AFP believes that the primary motive behind the reported recruitment drive is to gain access to sensitive data from the armed forces. “As they say, data is the new currency, data is the new oil. That’s really what they’re after. Whatever information they can make sense of, that will be their target, and of course, that’s what we’re trying to prevent,” Padilla emphasised.
She added that the military is investigating potential leaks and potential violations of policies and regulations, underscoring the gravity of the situation. “We take these things seriously, so we are checking on this.”
In light of these alarming reports, the AFP has reminded its personnel to exercise utmost caution regarding similar recruitment efforts and other attempts to collect data from them. “The AFP always remains professional. We need to be discerning. We also regularly conduct troop information and education campaigns. We will ensure that information about these ongoing issues is properly disseminated to all,” Padilla stated.
As the investigation unfolds, the AFP’s proactive stance reflects the Philippine military’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security and protecting sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands, particularly those of adversarial foreign entities.
