MANILA Philippines — National Security Adviser and National Security Council (NSC) Director General Eduardo Año on Friday urged government personnel to immediately report any attempts at espionage or unauthorized recruitment, stressing  the critical need to safeguard national security. Speaking on the sidelines of the “Safeguarding the Maritime Domain for the Free and Open Indo-Pacific” forum organized by the Stratbase Institute, Año warned that individuals who knowingly share sensitive information with foreign entities risk being labeled traitors. “For those who are being approached or recruited, report immediately to your respective superiors so we can assist and ensure that our security forces are ready to prevent any such plans,” he said. The NSC previously confirmed it had uncovered a serious national security issue involving suspected espionage activities allegedly linked to China, with at least three Filipinos implicated. Año, however, declined to comment on specific cases, citing ongoing investigations. “I don’t want to comment on this specific matter… Just rest assured that security has been taken,” he said. On the nature of the information involved, Año clarified that while some internal documents, schedules, and reports were exposed, no top-secret material was compromised. “There was sensitive information, but nothing at the highest level. No damage to national security has been reported,” he said. Año added that the alleged espionage activities began years before a provisional agreement between Manila and Beijing in 2024. “The other cases that we discovered date back a few years,” he said, noting that authorities are continuing to pursue additional leads. He urged government personnel to remain vigilant and assured that processes for handling sensitive information would continue to be reinforced. "From the start of this administration, we have had an insider threat program. This is a collective effort, especially within our intelligence community," said Año.