NBI ARRESTS 5 MORE SUSPECTED CHINESE SPIES

AGENTS of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Special Task Force arrested five more alleged Chinese spies in a series of operations in the country.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime B. Santiago identified the five as  Cai Shaohuang or Richard Tan Chua, the group’s alleged field commander; Cheng Hai Tao; Wu Cheng Ting; Wang Yong Yi and Wu Chin Ren.

The five were caught following intelligence operations conducted in Palawan, Dumaguete, and Manila. 

Prior to the arrests, the NBI said the suspects were under surveillance after the January 17 capture of  Chinese national Deng Yuanqing and his two alleged Filipino cohorts for violation of the Espionage Act. 

Based on intelligence reports, a separate group had been conducting aerial reconnaissance with drones, gathering data on Philippine naval assets.

The NBI said the five suspects frequently visiting Ulugan Bay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, under the guise of purchasing marine products. However, they were allegedly seen conducting aerial surveillance and collecting imagery intelligence on Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, a strategic Philippine Navy site near the South China Sea.

A pursuit operation on January 24 to 25 led to the arrest of the suspects in different locations:  One in Palawan, another at Ninoy Aquino International Airport after arriving from Palawan, one in Intramuros, another in Binondo, Manila, and the alleged leader in Dumaguete.

Santiago said the arrested suspects 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, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.