The Department of National Defense (DND) stated that a composite team from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) apprehended a total of six foreign nationals and two Filipinos in Grande Island, Subic on Wednesday, March 19.
The eight were arrested based on a warrant of arrest on Chinese national Qiu Feng, whose real name is Ye Tianwu (also known as Qing Feng), for violations of Republic Act 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code, and RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Apprehended together with Ye Tianwu were Xu Xining; Ye Xiaocan; Su Anlong; and He Peng; Cambodian Ang Deck/Dick; and Filipinos Melvin Mañosa Aguillon, Jr. and Jeffrey Espiridion, who are employees of Ang Deck/Dick.
Authorities recovered multiple cellphones and laptops, a 9mm firearm, and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
DND said the arrest exposes the unlawful nature, including suspected espionage and kidnapping activities related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), which some foreign nationals are using Grande Island under the guise of private enterprises.
The department added that such activities, which may be part of a larger criminal network operation, pose a serious threat to our national security.
“The Department looks forward to working with the concerned agencies, including the SBMA, in exploring the possibility of declaring Grande Island, along with nearby Chiquita Island, as military reservations,” DND said in a statement released Thursday.
“This will ultimately help secure the operations of the Subic Special Economic Zone including the Riviera Wharf and the Subic Bay International Airport, in consonance with the ongoing development of the naval operating base of the Philippine Navy to strengthen and maintain our strategic presence along our western seaboard,” it added.
Grande Island, located in Subic Bay, is a strategic vantage point with a clear view of key sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea, including Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc and also known as Scarborough Shoal.
