By Benjamin Pulta

SUSPECTED SPIES. Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad and National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago (2nd and 3rd from left) present five alleged spies at the NBI office in Pasay City on Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2025). The suspects are accused of espionage for unauthorized tapping into mobile network communications near military and police camps in Metro Manila. (Photo courtesy of NBI-PIO)

MANILA – Authorities have arrested five individuals, including two Chinese nationals, suspected of engaging in spying operations near military and police camps in the National Capital Region.

Officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday presented to the media the suspects as well as the equipment recovered from them.

The five were identified as Omar Khan Kashim Joveres, Leo Panti, and Mark Angelo Binza; and Chinese nationals Ni Qinhu and Zheng Wei.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the suspects were arrested Feb. 20 following reports from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) of numerous vehicles equipped with unauthorized International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers frequenting military and police camps, other essential systems, facilities, and national government assets within Metro Manila.

First to be arrested were Joveres, Panti and Binza, who said that they were commissioned by Qinhui to drive through key areas, including Villamor Airbase, Camp Aguinaldo, Malacañang, Camp Crame, and the United States Embassy, among others, for a monthly fee.

Quinhi and Wei were arrested at the former’s residence in in a condominium in Malate, Manila.

Among the items recovered were an unauthorized or malicious base station that impersonates a legitimate cellular tower to intercept, manipulate, or disrupt mobile network communications, and IMSIs.

The NBI said these are often used for unauthorized surveillance, eavesdropping, data theft and network disruption.

Qinhui’s wife, Melody, admitted to authorities that he had several IMSI catchers in their condominium unit, and confirmed that the three Filipinos were employed to run and operate the same ICT equipment within Metro Manila.

To prove she had nothing to do with her husband’s activities, she voluntarily surrendered multiple sets of IMSI catchers and other ICT equipment to the NBI.

Santiago said all five suspects underwent inquest proceedings before the Office of the State Prosecutor at the Department of Justice for violations of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) and Commonwealth Act No. 616 (espionage). (PNA)