The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a Chinese man and two Filipinos in Makati for allegedly spying on critical infrastructures in the country, including military camps, power grids, and malls.
In Mariz Umali’s exclusive report on “24 Oras” on Monday, the suspects were allegedly spying on Philippine infrastructures using sophisticated equipment installed at the back of a car.
The NBI also confiscated a computer set, laptop, server, hard drives, electronic storage devices, router, modem, mobile phone, TV monitor at CCTV equipment.
It also found an ID, passport, printer, scanner, bank book, deposit slips that indicate millions worth of money, and other documents and devices used for the alleged find transfer.
The confiscated gadgets and equipment will undergo the NBI forensic investigation to know if there is evidence of espionage and other sensitive information that could be used against the suspects.
“Isusupport ho nito yung theory nga ho na marami siyang nakuhang critical information na di dapat niya nakuha dahil yan ho ay nakakaapekto sa ating national security,” said senior agent Marlon Marcelo, NBI special task force executive officer.
(This will support the theory that he gathered critical information that he shouldn’t have because this will affect national security.)
The suspects are facing charges of violating Commonwealth Act No. 616 or An Act to Punish Espionage and Other Offenses Against the National Security” in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
However, they may face heavier charges with the newfound evidence.
“Naidentify ho natin itong location na to na dito ho siya nakatira so lumalabas ho marami hong gamit dito na posibleng gamit din ho sa pagkuha ng mga information. Yung information na nakukuha ng equipment so nililipat nya rito kaya nung bumalik yan galing from field, inintercept natin,” Marcelo said.
(We identified that the Chinese live here and that they are using equipment to gather information. We intercepted when he came back to the condo to transfer the information from the equipment.)
The NBI is also investigating whether the suspects have links to the five arrested Chinese allegedly spying on Philippine vessels that will conduct a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News
