Philippine military steps up security, loyalty protocols to prevent data leaks to adversaries

Shultz, 24, had been charged with conspiring to transmit national defence information, exporting defence-related technical data without a licence, and bribing a public official, after selling sensitive military documents to a foreign national believed to be associated with the Chinese government. He reportedly received at least 14 payments totalling US$42,000.

Schultz potentially faces decades in prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 23, 2025.

Once approved, the agreement will create new protocols for both countries to safeguard top-secret military information and early detection systems for potential threats in the West Philippine Sea.

“We are well within our targets to have it signed by the end of the year. It will give the Philippines trust by the US to handle sensitive information. We are really doing everything to be able to live up to this condition. It’s mutual,” she said.

Joshua Espeña, a resident fellow and vice-president of the International Development and Security Cooperation, told This Week in Asia Shultz’s espionage case was a tactic of cognitive warfare.

“To prevent this, the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] must strengthen all aspects of personnel management, ranging from education, doctrine, leadership, and training. Moreover, I argue that not only uniformed personnel can be guilty of this act, but also civilian human resource personnel of the [armed forces]. Many of them hold low salary grades with almost no benefits,” Espeña said.

“Adversaries might exploit this sorry state of bureaucratic affairs, which is why the [armed forces] must lobby the national government for a bigger defence budget that goes not just into the newest platforms or weapons systems but also into the salary of the