Palace security tighter after arrest of 5 ‘spies’
The facade of the side entrance to Malacañan Palace. —File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Security protocols will be beefed up for President Marcos and the Malacañang compound following the arrest of two Chinese nationals and three Filipinos for allegedly spying near the Palace and other vital government installations in Metro Manila.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro said it was “alarming” that alleged espionage activities have reached the Palace premises.
“We will work harder and intensify our forces to combat these spies. And we need even more intensified security for the Palace and, of course, the President,” Castro said.
She made the remarks after the National Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of the five suspected spies on Feb. 20.
The NBI said it was alerted about “suspicious” vehicles carrying international mobile subscriber identity (Imsi) catchers that had been spotted near Malacañang, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police, both in Quezon City, and even the US Embassy in Manila.
Imsi catchers serve as fake cell towers between mobile phones and the tower of the original network provider, allowing messages to be intercepted for unauthorized surveillance, eavesdropping, data theft, and network disruption.
High daily pay
First to be arrested were the Filipino accomplices identified as Omar Khan Joveres, Leo Panti, and Mark Angelo Binza. They claimed to have been hired by Chinese national Ni Qinhui for a daily wage of P2,500 to P3,000.
The trio said they were told to drive vehicles with the Imsi catchers near key government installations in Metro Manila.
Ni and another Chinese national, Zheng Wei, were arrested in a follow-up operation at a condominium in Malate, Manila.
In January, the NBI also arrested five suspected Chinese spies who were monitoring the activities of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine Navy in Palawan, including the resupply of troops in the West Philippine Sea.
Strategic location
Based on its surveillance and the accounts of witnesses, the NBI said the group had set up high-resolution solar-powered cameras pointed at the waters off Palawan where the PCG ships pass through on their way to and from the WPS.
Authorities said this was probably why Chinese vessels were aware of the movements of Philippine ships that were conducting resupply and rotation missions in the area.
The five suspected Chinese spies reportedly worked with Deng Yuanqing, the first Chinese national to be arrested on Jan. 17, along with two Filipinos, for allegedly operating a device that reportedly mapped critical infrastructures in the country, like military sites and power installations.
