MANILA – Authorities have arrested five foreign nationals suspected of engaging in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in the country.

Top officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday presented to the media the five Chinese suspects as well as the equipment recovered from them.

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Also presented were supposed video footage from drones and military-grade, high-resolution video cameras disguised to look like civilian security closed circuit TVs (CCTVs).

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AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said data collected from the solar-powered video cameras were “being sent real-time” to a remote location.

“That could be why in the past ships were always aware when we deploy Coast Guard and naval resupply ships,” Brawner said.

In a statement on Thursday, IFC said it invested $7 million in First Circle, which offers smart banking solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

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Photos recovered include images on the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Brgy. Bahile in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, which is part of the Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces West (Navforwest) positioned near the contested West Philippine Sea.

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The five were identified as Cai Shaohuang, Cheng Hai Tao, Wu Cheng Ting, Wang Yong Yi and Wu Chin Ren.

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NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the suspects claimed to be members of civic groups Qiaoxing Volunteer Group of the Philippines and Philippine-China Association of Promotion of Peace and Friendship, Inc.

He said they also posed as buyers of seafood from locals, particularly lobsters, and have even befriended local officials.

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The arrests were made following pursuit operations on Jan. 24 to 25 in Palawan, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Other images show the Philippine Navy’s Del Pilar Class offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS 16), maps overlooking the Subic Bay International Airport, and Naval Operating Base Subic.

There were also footages of the Philippine Coast Guard vessels BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Gabriela Silang docked in the PCG Maritime Safety Service Unit NCR-Cluster, officials said.

Meanwhile, the NBI denied claims that the government is targeting Chinese nationals in its operations.

“We are not targeting the Chinese. It just so happens that there was a violation of the (espionage) law and these people happened to be Chinese,” Santiago said.

Santiago also denied reports that they tortured Deng Quanjing, the suspected spy who used an SUV (sports utility vehicle) to allegedly map out crucial military installations in Luzon, and that the latter was deprived of the service of a competent counsel.

“At every opportunity the NBI gave Chinese consular officials the opportunity to meet with their constituents,” the NBI chief said.

Too early to tell whether acts state sponsored

Brawner, meanwhile, said it is still too early to tell whether the activities of the Chinese suspects are state sponsored.

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“We cannot conclude that. What we are focusing on is on the act itself, yung pag-espiya yung tinatawag nating (the spying, or what we call) ISR, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations so yun po yung focus natin (that is our focus),” he added.

While it is known that images and videos being taken by the suspects are being forwarded, the AFP chief said where these are sent remains unknown.

He also said that this case is “just the tip of the iceberg” and that many individuals behind these kinds of activities have yet to be caught.

“We are in the process of also building up the intelligence against these other activities,” the AFP chief added.

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He also admitted that the five suspects are related to the case of the alleged Chinese spy arrested last Jan. 17 in Makati Cityinfinity games, along with two Filipino accomplices. (with Priam Nepomuceno)

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