Six Chinese and a Filipino have been arrested in Zambales for alleged spying activities, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday, March 26.
The NBI identified those arrested as Chinese nationals Ye Tianwu who is also known as Qui Feng and Qing Feng, He Peng, Xu Xining, Ye Xiaocan, Dick Ang, and Su Anlong, and their Filipino security and driver Melvin Aguillon who was caught in possession of an unregistered firearm.
It said they were arrested during a joint operation conducted by the bureau with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) last March 19 in Grande Island, in Subic, Zambales.
It also said that "photographs and documents of Philippine and United States Naval Assets were found inside the Subjects' units."
“Electronic gadgets containing surveillance photos and videos were also seized together with fake documents (BIR) and identification cards,” it added.
Following their arrest, the NBI said the seven persons were presented for inquest before the Provincial Prosecutor of Bataan for violation of Commonwealth Act No. 616, the Espionage Law; falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); using fictitious name and concealing true name under Article 178 of the RPC; and violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.
The NBI noted that Ye Tianwu was also found to be the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Tarlac City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 63 where he is facing charges of violating RA No 8799, the Securities Regulation Code.
It said the operation was conducted against the seven persons after the NBI received a letter from the AFP’s Military Intelligence Unit concerning foreign nationals suspected of conducting covert intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations on critical infrastructures within Region III.
“Intelligence report from the AFP revealed that six individuals on the island were closely monitored for engaging in deemed suspicious activities, involving a collection of sensitive data related to ‘Critical Infrastructure’ or data affecting national defense within the area,” it disclosed.
When investigators learned that Yu Tianwu is a subject of an arrest warrant, the NBI decided to conduct the operation that led to the arrests.
The NBI said counter-intelligence efforts revealed that “these individuals were occupying the island under the guise of recreational fishers, frequently lingering at the wharves until the wee hours.”
It also said that “multiple witnesses reported that the group was utilizing hi-tech drones in the guise of transporting fishing bait - conducting surveillance on naval assets, including those from local forces and allied nations, passing through Grande Island.”
“Due to its contiguity and strategic location, the island allows the group to monitor naval assets entering and exiting Subic Bay during maritime patrols or joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea,” it added.