NBI captures 5 Chinese, Pinoys for ‘espionage’

MANILA, Philippines — For allegedly spying on Malacañang, the military and police, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested two Chinese nationals and three Filipinos.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said Ni Qinhui and Zheng Wei were apprehended along with Filipinos Omar Khan Joveres, Leo Panti and Mark Angelo Binza on Feb. 20.

The suspects were charged before the Department of Justice with espionage under Commonwealth Act 616 and violation of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The interdiction operations against the suspects were conducted based on information from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which indicated that several vehicles equipped with international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catchers conduct signal intelligence on military and police camps, national government assets and other essential systems in Metro Manila.

“These people were conducting covert and unauthorized intelligence gathering activities, posing a threat to national security,” AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad told reporters.

A subsequent investigation validated the information that the Chinese were allegedly involved in espionage.

According to Santiago, the IMSI catchers installed on the vehicles can gather information from cell phones.

The Filipino suspects told investigators they drove first near Malacañang in Manila. They also visited Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Crame, Villamor Airbase and the United States embassy.

In return, the Chinese reportedly paid the Filipinos up to P3,000 each per day.

The Chinese nationals were apprehended in a condominium unit in Malate, Manila.

Recovered from them were IMSI catchers as well as information and communications technology equipment.

Fake NBI official held for extortion

Meanwhile, a man posing as an officer of the NBI was arrested in Tondo, Manila for allegedly extorting P10 million from a Chinese businessman in exchange for facilitating the release of 20 Chinese nationals in NBI custody.

The 50-year-old suspect identified as alias Crisanto of Bulacan was apprehended by police in a Ford Raptor pickup truck on Sunday night.

The suspect bought the vehicle using the money he reportedly swindled from a 38-year-old victim, according to Metro Manila police director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin. — Mark Ernest Villeza