6 Chinese, 1 Filipino nabbed for illegal surveillance near West Philippine Sea

National

SIX Chinese nationals and one Filipino were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), on March 19, after they were allegedly caught conducting illegal surveillance of activities near the West Philippine Sea at Grande Island, Zambales.

The Chinese nationals were identified as He Peng, Xu Xining, Ye Tianwu, Ye Xiaocan, Dick Ang, and Su Anlong, who are members of the Chinese Communist Party-United Front Work.

The Filipino suspect was identified as Melvin Aguillon, who was the personal bodyguard of the foreigners.

A report by Philippine Star, stated that the NBI, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and the Navy's special operations group initiated the arrest after receiving a tip from military officials about possible “covert intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.”

Seized during the arrest were fake tax documents and gadgets monitoring the departure and arrival of Philippine and American naval assets.

According to NBI Cybercrime Division Director Van Homer Angluben, the suspects disguised as recreational fishers but were flying drones in the island.

The suspects are facing charges for spionage, falsification of documents and concealment of true names.

The Filipino suspect will also be charged for possession of illegal firearms and violation of the gun ban after a firearm was found in his posession.

The Philippine Navy (PN), who used the Grande and Chiquita Islands as the home port for its warships, has expressed concerns over the presence of Chinese investors in Subic.

PN Spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad confirmed that the Navy is preparing for eventual occupation of the two islands to increase maritime presence along the Subic area.

Similarly, the Department of National Defense aims to establish military reservations on the islands to secure the operations of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone.(Johanna Sumalinog, USJ-R Comm Intern)