The Mongolian national arrested by agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on 12 February in Zambales has ties with China's People’s Liberation Army, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said Tuesday.

Año said the Mongolian national, reportedly a graduating student of an aviation school, was apprehended by BI agents and the military at an aviation school in Iba town.

“The said foreign national who enrolled as an aviation student concealed his military background and service with the People’s Liberation Army, especially his jet fighter license from the PLA Air Force Aviation University,” Año said in a statement.

“Such non-disclosure constitutes a serious violation of Philippine immigration laws. Moreover, his presence and actions in Zambales near vital military locations are clearly inconsistent with his purpose of stay in the country,” he added.

The 30-year-old male foreigner was nabbed as an undesirable alien for posing a risk to public interest and safety for taking aerial photos of the Iba airport and the nearby Palauig River area, approximately five nautical miles from the airport.

“The government assures the public that we will continue to strengthen coordination among intelligence, immigration, aviation, and law enforcement agencies to detect, deter and respond decisively to any threat to our national security,” Año said.