Chinese Spies in Calamba Raid? PAOCC Checking

After discovering telecommunications equipment at a site initially suspected to be an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is now investigating whether the three Chinese nationals arrested during Friday's raid in Calamba City are involved in espionage.

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS

PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said yesterday that officials are looking into the possibility the foreigners are engaged in espionage activities.

“That is one of the angles we are investigating because this involves sensitive communications equipment. The individuals operating them have no legal documents, and they are Chinese nationals,” Cruz said in Filipino in a phone interview.

The PAOCC, in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), conducted the raid in Barangay La Mesa at around 9 a.m., targeting what was described as a guerrilla-type POGO facility.

The Calabarzon police identified the three suspects as Lou, Weng and Yuan. About 23 Filipino workers employed by the foreigners were also taken into custody.

The raid was carried out based on a mission order issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), following reports from barangay officials about the presence of Chinese nationals in the area.

The area is about 6.5 kilometers from Camp Vicente Lim, the headquarters of the Calabarzon police.

Cruz said the site became suspicious when they noticed a communications tower near the apartment serving as a work station of the suspects.

“When we conducted the raid, we were surprised to find telecommunications equipment there,” he said.

Filipino workers at the site claimed they were hired to install telecommunications infrastructure.