Photo credit: NBI

In a dramatic turn of events, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), under the vigilant leadership of NBI Director Judge Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.), has dismantled a covert espionage operation involving a Chinese national and two Filipino collaborators. The trio was caught red-handed conducting illegal surveillance and espionage activities across various regions in the Philippines.

The plot thickened in December 2024 when the NBI's Special Task Force (STF) and Cybercrime Division (CCD) received an alarming intelligence tip from the AFP-Naval Operatives. The report pointed fingers at a group of Chinese nationals who, under the guise of developing autonomous vehicles, were allegedly conducting unauthorized surveillance, gathering sensitive information crucial to national defense through advanced technologies.

After meticulous investigation, the NBI identified six key players in this high-stakes game of espionage. The group included DENG Yuanqing, a software engineer affiliated with PLA University of Science and Technology (PLAUST), a renowned research institution operated by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China. DENG was joined by two unnamed hardware engineers and a financier known as WANG, both of whom were back in China, along with two Filipino accomplices, Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jayson Amado Fernandez.

From mid-December 2024 to January 2025, the group's vehicle was spotted weaving through the National Capital Region and Luzon, compiling detailed topographic data and mapping critical infrastructures—without any authorization from the Philippine government. This covert operation blatantly violated the country's Commonwealth Act No. 616, which criminalizes espionage and other offenses against national security.

The NBI made their move on January 17, 2025. Acting on their intel, operatives tracked the suspects to Palm Tower in Makati City. Inside the vehicle, they found DENG, Besa, and Fernandez, along with a trove of high-tech surveillance equipment. When confronted, DENG attempted to destroy evidence and flee, but the NBI swiftly detained all three suspects.

A closer look at the seized ICT equipment revealed a treasure trove of sensitive data, including detailed mappings of strategic locations across the Philippines. Investigators even discovered remote access programs linked to a user account in China, cementing the operation's espionage nature.

The suspects were immediately informed of their rights and transported to the NBI's main office for booking. They now face charges under Commonwealth Act No. 616 and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, as their actions pose a serious threat to national security.

This operation underscores the NBI's unyielding commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, shining a light on the hidden battles fought to keep the country safe from prying eyes.