Filipino wife of accused Chinese spy insists husband's innocence, says he works for self-driving car company
A Filipino woman, whose husband is suspected of spying for China, said her husband works for a company specializing in driverless cars and is not a spy.
Yuanqing Deng, an alleged Chinese “sleeper agent,” and two other Filipinos were arrested on Jan. 17 on suspicion of espionage. They have reportedly been going to vital military installations around the Philippines.
Noemi Deng on Monday said that Deng contacted her through QQ in 2013 and got married the following year. She added that they lived in Nanjing, China for two years after she gave birth to their son.
She continued that during the pandemic, she lived in her hometown in Ipil, Zamboanga.
According to Noemi, her husband tests roads for driverless cars, adding that she does not know his exact job title.
"Nag susurvery daw po sila ng daan para doon sa self-driving cars. Hindi na niya po na-elaborate sa akin kung anong mga gagawin basta sa pagkaintindi ko, parang (gumagamit) sila ng Waza para (i-assess) yung daan kung saan sila papunta," she said.
"Wala po ako sa posisyon kung among masasasabi sa company kasi hindi naman po ako part ng company. Ang sa akin lang, si Ching lang talaga yung mapalaya. Yun lang po. Hindi ko po alam yung tamang term na gagamitin para sa trabaho niya po. Basta nag tetest sila ng daan para doon sa driverless, self-driving car," Noemi continued.
Noemi pleaded for Deng's release and expressed concern about her son's future in school given the media reports about her father.
“Isa lang po masasabi ko, hindi po spy si Ching po. Matagal na po siyang naninirahan dito sa Pilipinas. Mahigit 10 years na po siya dito. May anak po kami eight years old," she stressed. "Natatakot po ako sa kahihinatnan ng anak ko sa school dahil sa media na lumalabas na spy young daddy niya."
"Yung anak ko po hinahanap yung daddy niya. Sana po matulungan niyo ako palabasin siya sa jail po," she said.
She said her husband has been traveling to China for work. She also said that she cannot say how long Yuanging has been with the company.
Meanwhile, civic leader and activist Teresita Ang See urged authorities to exercise "due diligence" before accusing Deng of being a Chinese spy.
“They should do their job before coming up with a conclusion,” Ang See said.
“He is a contractor for the driverless car. The clients are Australia, US, and Taiwan… these are all US allies,” she continued.
Ang See said that they are coordinating with the Chinese Embassy to help Deng, but was told that "they have no right even for consular visits."
According to Ferdinand Topacio, Deng's pro bono counsel, a petition to allow Deng to post bail will be filed once the case is in court.
“Is bailable even if espionage is even proven. First, we will have to see whether we can gain access and for that. Since it involved the consulate in China, I will have to coordinate with them, just to make sure that we are on the same page, with respect to the remedies that are being availed of to help the client,” Topacio said.
In December 2024, the National Bureau of Investigation-Special Task Force (STF) and NBI-Cybercrime Division (CCD) received an intelligence report from the AFP-Naval Operatives, that a group of Chinese nationals, in the guise of developing autonomous vehicle, is allegedly engaged in surveillance operations, unlawfully obtaining and disclosing information affecting national defense, utilizing advanced technologies.
"From December 13, 2024 to January 16, 2025, subject vehicle was monitored traversing to and fro the National Capital Region and the general divisions of Luzon, conducting detailed scouting, collating comprehensive image of the terrains and structures and the over-all topography of the potential targets, without consent and authority from the Philippine Government," NBI said in a post.
Deng and his drivers, Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jayson Amado Fernandez, were arrested in Makati on the evening of Jan. 17. Authorities apprehended them after Deng allegedly failed to provide a permit or any lawful authorization for collecting information that could impact national security. (with reports from Bella Cariaso)
