Five more Chinese men have been arrested by government authorities for allegedly conducting video surveillance of naval activities and facilities in the country.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime B. Santiago identified the five Chinese men as Cai Shaohuang, who has been identified as the field commander; intelligence operatives Cheng Hai Tao and Wu Cheng Ting; finance officer Wang Yong Yi; and Wu Chin Ren.
Santiago said those arrested have been presented before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila for inquest for violations of Section 1(a) and 2 (b) of Commonwealth Act No. 616, the Espionage Act, in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“Minomonitor na nila ‘yung defense natin, ‘yung mga facilities natin na very dangerous ‘pag nalaman ng ibang bansa (They have been monitoring our defense, our facilities which are dangerous if revealed to other countries),” said Santiago during the press conference on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 30, that was held jointly with the DOJ, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Amidst rising tensions between the Philippines and China over dispute on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Santiago assured that the five foreigners were not arrested because they are Chinese.
“They were arrested because they are violating our Commonwealth Law at sinusurvey nila ang defense facilities natin without authority (and for surveying defense facilities without authority). That is violation of our law,” Santiago stressed.
“Kung ano pa man silang bansa nanggaling, kung ganoon ang ginagawa, aarestuhin rin po natin (Whichever country they came from, if they did that, we will still arrest them),” he assured.
The five arrested Chinese nationals claimed to be members of the Qiaoxing Volunteer Group of the Philippines and the Philippine China Association of Promotion of Peace and Friendship, Inc., both of which are now being investigated.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. asked the public's help to “report any suspicious activities that are believed connected to spying or any other activities to authorities so that we can put a stop to this kinds of activities.”
On the other hand, Brawner admitted that they could not yet determine if the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations of the group is state-sponsored.
Following surveillance conducted, Santiago said the five Chinese were arrested by operatives of the NBI’s Special Task Force (NBI-STF) and Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) with the help of the AFP during a series of hot pursuit operations from Jan. 24 to 25 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City; Intramuros and Binondo in Manila; and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental.
Authorities seized from the group various devices including drones and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
“Analysis on the running applications on the seized mobile devices from the Chinese nationals reveals photos of Buliluyan ports, Coast Guard stations, vessels, small navy crafts/assets, and docks. Other images showed the Philippine Navy’s Del Pilar Class PS 16, terrain maps overlooking the Subic Bay International Airport, Naval Operating Base Subic, and a Chinese character marking embedded on the screenshot with an arrow from Barreto, Olongapo pointing to the Naval Operating Base Subic. Also discovered were footages of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Vessels BRP Theresa Magbanua, and BRP Gabriela Silang, docked in PCG-Maritime Safety Service Unit NCR-Cluster,” the NBI said in a statement.
The NBI noted that intelligence gathered showed that the group was monitored in Barangay Buenavista in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan posing as buyers of marine products roaming around the city surveying for stations selling products.
But the NBI said the group had been frequenting Ulugan Bay in Puerto Princesa and conducting aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, collecting imagery intelligence on the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Barangay Bahile which is part of the Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces West and is strategically positioned near the South China Sea.
“What I can say is that they have embedded themselves doon sa ating society (in our society),” said BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval.
“Some of them have been working here. Meron sa kanila nag-asawa na ng Filipina...," Sandoval said.
Director Santiago said the arrested five Chinese nationals are believed working with compatriot Deng Yuangqing, whom the NBI believed is a spy.
Yuangqing and his two Filipino cohorts are set to be arraigned on Friday, Jan. 31, before the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on charges of espionage.