6 foreigners, 1 Filipino undergo inquest for suspected espionage activities in Subic

Six foreigners and a Filipino are now undergoing inquest proceedings for allegedly taking part in espionage activities at a resort in Subic.

According to a "24 report" by Oscar Oida on Wednesday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division presented the seven suspects were arrested last March 19 and the gadgets that contained photos of US Naval Vessels and other ships in the area.

“We recovered a piece of paper written in Chinese. When translated, nakalagay po yung date, time, at yung barko na pumasok sa Subic Bay Port, (it indicated the date, time, and vessels that entered the Subic Bay Port.)” said Ex-O NBI CCD Van Homer Angluben.

“Mayroon pong mga resupply mission doon. Eto po yung mga surveillance photos na na-recover po natin. Nakikita po natin na may kargamento po na itina-transport going inside sa military base natin,” he added.

(There were resupply missions there. We recovered surveillance photos. We can see the cargo that is being transported inside our military base.)

The NBI stated that the suspects had an intensive history of going in and out of the country, which raised concerns.

“This is very disturbing. This is getting very alarming to all of us,” said NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin.

The NBI is coordinating with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in investigating the Chinese corporation that is renting the island resort where the suspects were arrested.

“And, for the possible cancellation ng contract nitong Chinese corporation over this territory, dahil nga po itong territory na itong island na ito may be exploited as a vantage point for ISR operations,” said Angluben.

(For the possible cancellation ng contract nitong Chinese corporation over this territory, because this territory on this island may be exploited as a vantage point for ISR operations.)

The suspects will be facing charges for violating the espionage law, among others.

The foreign nationals did not issue a statement. But the Filipino suspect said he was just the driver. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News