A MONGOLIAN student enrolled at a flying school in Zambales has been arrested for alleged immigration violations, including failing to disclose his past military service and aviation training in China, authorities reported on Saturday.
The arrest has also raised concerns about potential espionage activities due to the student’s alleged interest in areas near the West Philippine Sea.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) identified the foreign national as Bold-Erdene Boldbaatar, 30, who was arrested on Thursday at his residence in Barangay Lipay-Dingin-Panibuatan during a joint interagency operation. The operation was supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in Central Luzon.
According to the BI, Boldbaatar violated the Philippine Immigration Act by allegedly failing to disclose information about his prior military service and fighter aviation training when applying for his visa and special study permit.
Authorities consider this omission to be misrepresentation and fraudulent procurement of immigration benefits, and BI officials stated that his immigration status was no longer valid at the time of his arrest.
Investigators also revealed that Boldbaatar graduated from the University of Mongolia and the Civil Aviation University of China, obtaining a license as a jet fighter pilot from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Aviation University.
Concerns have been raised about his presence in Zambales due to its proximity to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, which has been under Chinese control since 2012. During solo flight exercises, Boldbaatar allegedly took aerial photographs of Iba Airport and the Palauig River area, with Palauig being the Philippine municipality closest to the shoal.
This case follows several other arrests of foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens, in the Philippines for suspected espionage operations, raising further concerns about national security.
