IBA, Zambales — An interagency operation led by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday arrested a jet fighter pilot of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in a rented apartment here in Barangay Lipay-Dingin-Panibuatan.
Through the implementation of Mission Order (MO) 2026-063 dated Feb. 12, 2026, Immigration agents, together with the personnel from the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police, arrested Bold-Erdene Boldbaatar, 30, a Mongolian citizen, in his rented unit in Villamin Apartment, for violating Commonwealth Act 613, at 6:51 a.m. on Thursday.
He was later transported to BI main office in Manila for booking, medical examination and biometric processing.
Based on the MO, Boldbaatar violated conditions or limitations of stay for engaging in activities inconsistent with the purpose of his visa and Special Study Permit; entry by fraud or misrepresentation by failing to disclose his military affiliation and aviation combat training; undocumented status or without valid immigration status; and undesirability for posing a risk to national security.
Intelligence records revealed that suspect Boldbaatar is a graduate of Defense University of Mongolia and Civil Aviation University of China, and obtained a license as a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) jet fighter pilot from PLA Air Force Aviation University.
He served as a soldier with jet-fighter aircraft piloting experience.
While in Zambales, the suspect was enrolled as a student pilot at All Asia Aviation Academy in Iba, Zambales, allegedly financed by Chinese government, where he acquired dual-use aviation skills potentially applicable to surveillance or military operations, which poses as a strategic location risk.
The suspect’s operations in Iba are about 120 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, which raises serious concern that his “training flights” are being used for reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence gathering for China, especially during his solo flight training.
Several aerial photographs of Iba Airport and Palauig River were seized from the suspect.
