THE National Bureau of Investigation yesterday arrested another Chinese national over alleged spying activities.
The 48-year-old Chinese identified as Tak Hoi Lao based on his Macau passport was apprehended near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) building in Intramuros, Manila.
NBI operatives seized an alleged international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher which is capable of intercepting mobile phone communications and tracking location data inside the suspect’s vehicle.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia brushed off the arrest, saying the poll body is not worried about attempts to hack election data.
“We don’t have election data in the main office. There is nothing to worry about,” he said.
Recently, a Senate hearing uncovered alleged attempts by China to interfere with next month’s election.
The NBI has arrested Chinese nationals and accused them of driving vehicles with the same IMSI catchers near government offices and military, and police camps.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has yet to issue a statement on the latest arrest.
In the past three months, at least a dozen Chinese nationals have been arrested on suspicion of espionage. China last month announced the arrest of three Filipinos in Beijing for suspected espionage.
In yesterday’s incident, NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin the said arrest was for alleged violations of the Espionage Law and Data Privacy Act in relation to 2012 Cybercrime Law.
Lavin said NBI operatives have been monitoring the Chinese national as he roamed Makati and Taguig cities in the past few days.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the Chinese had been under surveillance for some time and yesterday, they received information he was in the Comelec area.
He also said the Chinese had “Nakakaapat na silang ikot dito sa opisina ng Comelec kaya hinarangan na ng mga tauhan natin (They has been in the area four times that is why the NBI operatives blocked them),” Santiago added.
He said investigations are continuing as to why the suspect frequented the Comelec area.
He said it was “concerning” as the election is near. – With Gerard Naval
