NBI: Foreign ‘spies’ used drones to monitor PH, US naval assets

MANILA, Philippines — Six alleged foreign spies arrested last week on Grande Island in Subic Bay pretended to be fishermen transporting bait while monitoring the movement of naval ships using high-tech drones, the National Bureau of Investigation said on Wednesday.

The bureau presented to the media the six foreigners—five Chinese and one Cambodian—who were taken into custody on March 19 over supposed espionage activities in Subic Bay. Their Filipino bodyguard was also arrested.

“[I]n our surveillance, we observed that these personalities were there on the island in the guise of recreational fishers ... We also noticed that they were flying drones at times when boats were passing by,” said Van Homer Angluben, NBI Cybercrime Division executive officer.

READ: NBI agents nab 2 more Chinese ‘spies,’ 3 Pinoys

The five Chinese suspects were identified as He Peng, also known as Nan Ke; Xu Xuning; Ye Tianwu, also known as Qui Feng or Quing Feng; Ye Xiaocan; and Su Anlong. Also arrested were Dick Ang, a Cambodian, and Melvin Aguillon, a Filipino.

‘Vantage point’

It was discovered that Ye Tianwu had an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by a Tarlac City court for violating the Securities Regulation Code.

Angluben said the NBI has been conducting surveillance operations on Grande Island since last year, given how it might be used as a “vantage point” for espionage activities.

On March 17, the NBI received an intelligence report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines that a group of foreign nationals was conducting covert operations on an island in Subic Bay, later identified as Grande Island.

Through its investigation and eyewitness reports, the NBI found that the suspects were “frequently lingering at the wharves until the wee hours” and monitoring naval assets passing through the island, including those from allied nations.

“Due to its contiguity and strategic location, the island allows the group to monitor naval assets entering and exiting Subic Bay during maritime patrols or joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea,” the NBI said.

Authorities recovered photos and videos, including pictures of a US naval vessel, a naval operating base, as well as ships transporting cargo.

“What is notable in our operation, we recovered a piece of paper written in Chinese. And when translated, it noted the date, time and the boat which left and entered the Subic Bay port,” Angluben said.

They also confiscated fake Bureau of Internal Revenue documents and identification cards.

(2025/03/27-05:50)