AUTHORITIES have arrested five Chinese nationals suspected of conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in the Philippines.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) presented the suspects—Cai Shaohuang, Cheng Hai Tao, Wu Cheng Ting, Wang Yong Yi, and Wu Chin Ren—along with recovered equipment, including drones and military-grade cameras disguised as civilian CCTVs.
AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. revealed that data from solar-powered cameras were transmitted in real-time, potentially aiding foreign entities in tracking Philippine naval movements. Images recovered include key military sites such as Naval Detachment Oyster Bay and Subic Bay.
The suspects, posing as seafood buyers, were arrested in Palawan, NAIA, and Dumaguete. While the AFP is investigating whether their activities were state-sponsored, Brawner warned that this may be “just the tip of the iceberg.” The NBI denied targeting Chinese nationals, asserting due process was followed.
