NBI FILES RAPS VS CHINESE ARRESTED NEAR COMELEC OFFICE FOR ALLEGED ESPIONAGE

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday filed criminal charges against a Chinese national arrested for possession of electronic eavesdropping equipment near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) building in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday.

Nabbed was Tak Hail Lao, a 47-year-old Chinese national.

Lao was charged by the NBI before the Department of Justice (DOJ) with misuse of device and illegal interception and system interference under Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616 or the Espionage Act of 1941.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said while the charges are bailable, it will be up to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to decide whether temporary liberty should be granted while the case is pending since the suspect is a foreign national.

Lao, who uses a passport issued by the Chinese special administrative region of Macau, arrived last April 2. He had no derogatory record.

The Chinese was arrested in possession of an international mobile subscriber identity device, or IMSI catcher, which can be used to intercept mobile communications, including text messages.

The arrested suspect claimed to be just an ordinary tourist.

Lao added that the vehicle that is rigged with the eavesdropping device is owned by another person.