Chinese spy near Comelec sparks security alarm

The Palace on Wednesday, April 30, labeled the arrest of a Chinese spy near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters as a matter of national security, following concerns about potential foreign interference in the country’s electoral processes.

Surveillance Tech Found Chinese Spy Outside Comelec Office

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detained the foreign national after he was found inside a vehicle parked outside Comelec’s main office in Manila. Authorities discovered equipment in the vehicle capable of mimicking legitimate cell towers through an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher—a technology often linked to surveillance and data interception.

“That is an issue of national security, so we will just leave it at that. We will leave it at that and we will just have an investigation, thorough investigation on that matter,” said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Honey Rose “Tricia” Castro during a Palace briefing.

Castro added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was aware of the development and had expressed confidence in the intelligence community’s handling of the case. She noted that the President is awaiting the results of a full investigation.

Calls to Summon Chinese Ambassador Over Troll Farm Allegations

The National Security Council had previously warned of possible Chinese interference in the upcoming midterm elections. In response to growing concerns, the NBI has launched a probe into the incident.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino criticized the Chinese Embassy for allegedly hiring a Makati-based firm to operate a troll farm promoting pro-Beijing narratives online. He has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to summon Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to explain the reported deal.

“I look forward to seeing the day when we will be expelling some Chinese diplomats because of this incident,” Tolentino said in a media interview.

Tolentino also linked the troll farm issue to online attacks against individuals defending the Philippines’ sovereign claims in the West Philippine Sea.

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