NBI ARRESTS SUSPECTED CHINESE SPY, 2 PINOY COHORTS

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday said it arrested a Chinese national and two Filipino cohorts believed to be involved in espionage activities in the country.

Nabbed were Chinese Deng Yuangqing, and his alleged Pinoy cohorts Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jason Amado Fernandez.

NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago said Yuangging is a specialist in engineering, control engineering and automation.

The suspects were caught last Friday in a condominium in Makati.

According to Santiago, the suspects had been traveling Luzon since Dec. 8, 2024 using a Toyota Rav-4 equipped with suspected surveillance items.

Based on their investigation, Yuangqing, Balundo and Fernandez had been located near Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, raising alarm on national security.

NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc said when they arrested Yuangging, they asked him if he was a licensed surveyor, or if he represented a research institution, or if he came from a private company, whether he was a military or a law enforcer.

Lotoc said the Chinese national failed to present  permit or any license or authority.

“I think he has been in the country for five years or more already. And we believe that he can be dubbed as a ‘sleeper’ because, through our monitoring, he was acting just like an ordinary person,” said Lotoc.

Lotoc added that aside from military and police camps, power plants, and malls, the suspects also frequented EDCA sites.

The NBI and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said found in Yuangging’s vehicle were advanced espionage devices, including tools for data collection and transmission.

Among the equipment recovered was a GNSS RPK Global Navigation Satellite System capable of generating 3D images of target structures.

An espionage complaint in connection with cybercrime was filed by tne NB against the suspects before the Department of Justice (DOJ).