NBI seizes Chinese national caught with alleged spy equipment around Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday (April 29) arrested, yet again, a Chinese national caught with alleged spy equipment inside a vehicle parked near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. 

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said the Chinese identified as Tak Hoi Lap was intercepted with  a surveillance equipment called an  international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher capable of collecting sensitive digital information such as texts, photos, videos and phone book data within a 500-meter to 3-kilometer radius. 

According to Lavin, the suspect was already under surveillance for five days. His alleged espionage activities within the Comelec headquarters is what triggered authorities to give the green light for his arrest. 

“Meron siyang gadget ana ang tawag ay IMSI catcher. Kaya nitong higupin sa distansya na 500 meters to 3 kilometers lahat ng aktibong mobile gadget na gumagana,” Lavin who spearheaded the arrest told the media Tuesday. 

“As we speak, nahihigop nito ngayon ‘yung ating messaging, ‘yung ating content,” Lavin said.

However, aside from espionage activities alone, the NBI was alarmed at the possibility of sensitive election data from Comelec having been compromised given the conclusion of local absentee voting and barely two weeks before the midterm elections.

“Naalarma na kami na nandito na nga sa ganitong pasilidad. They are obtaining critical information, sensitive information patungkol sa trabaho ng ating opisina na nasasakupan nito ngayon. Ang location natin ngayon ay maraming government offices. Hindi natin sigurado ano na nakuha nating information but we are subjecting this to cyber forensic examination,” Lavin said. 

The Chinese national however denied the allegations and reasoned that he is not even the owner of the vehicle and that he is only in the Philippines for about five days as a tourist. 

The Chinese national will face Espionage charges and violation of the Data Privacy Act. 

IMSI catchers can manipulate mobile owner 

In mobile phones, the IMSI is a number that uniquely identifies every cellular network user, the IMSI catcher intercepts this information that holds all the personal identity of every subscriber and all smartphones, especially high-end ones, have it. 

“As a matter of fact, when we want to do tracking, kung nasaan ka, ‘yun lang kukunin namin yung IMSI. And then, you can track yung location mo,” Lavin said.

What’s even more alarming is that the operator can manipulate the person whose mobile identity was withheld, pose as him/her and send messages or other information to people as that individual. 

“Kaya niyang kunin yung number natin, kaya niyang intercept ‘yung ating messages, kaya niya itong baguhin. It can manipulate the person in operating custody of this device, can manipulate at ibahin yung messaging context. Palabasin na galing niyang sa ibang halimbawa babae at nag-send sa pinalabas sa cellphone mo at sineen sa misis mo,” he said. 

Who can have an IMSI device? 

Because the device is so dangerous, any entity who decides to own one must secure a license from the National Privacy Commission (NPC). 

“Ito ay pwedeng lisensyahan ng ating NPC lalo na on who should be using this device. Because this can be used by, this can be used by the intelligence community. This can be used by law enforcement. As a matter of fact, I believe that law enforcement is using this on a regulated and monitored basis. Kasi delikado ito. Baka makuha at magamit,” Lavin said. 

Fortunately the NBI Cybercrime division has the technological capability to counter those operating the device. 

“We have gadgets to counter who are operating this device. As a matter of fact, yan yung validation namin kanina. We used a device,” he said. 

Lavin believes the illegal surveillance around Comelec was because of the nearing elections. 

“That’s a possibility [that it can be election-related]. We’re not saying that’s it. But that’s a possibility. Why would you go to our area in Intramuros, especially the Comelec? Kung alam nila na hindi dyan ang data center ng Comelec,” Lavin said. 

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