Chinese spies in Calamba raid? PAOCC checking

MANILA, Philippines — 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.

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.

However, after verifying with the city government, the PAOCC found out that the foreigners lacked the necessary business permits and legal documentation for their operations.

Cruz noted that authorities are now coordinating with international counterparts to determine whether the arrested individuals have links to espionage activities.

Last month, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested five Chinese nationals in separate operations in Manila, Dumaguete and Palawan for allegedly spying on military camps and assets.

In May of last year, police arrested another Chinese national in Makati on suspicion of working as a spy for the Chinese government.

Authorities continue to assess the potential security implications of these cases as investigations progress.

Crackdown intensified

With thousands of foreigners formerly employed by POGOs still believed to be residing in the country, the PAOCC has intensified its crackdown, setting a self-imposed deadline of September to deport illegal aliens.

PAOCC spokesman Winston John Casio made this assurance in an interview over dzBB radio, emphasizing that many foreign workers linked to POGO hubs have refused to leave despite President Marcos’ ban on the industry.

“We gave ourselves until September because, in all honesty, we know these POGO workers did not leave voluntarily, so we are aware that many remain in the country,” he said.

Citing data from the BI, Casio revealed that at least 11,000 foreign POGO workers are slated for deportation.

Given the scale of the task, he urged local chief executives to take a proactive role in identifying and accounting for these individuals.

“We appeal to our governors, mayors and even barangay captains – please survey your respective jurisdictions,” he said.

Casio noted they have received reports of the presence of foreigners allegedly connected with POGOs in Metro Manila, particularly in Pasay, Parañaque, Makati and Las Piñas, as well as in other parts of the country.

Casio called on mayors in these cities to assist the national government in addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, PAOCC’s Cruz disclosed that authorities are monitoring at least 100 guerrilla-style POGO hubs across the country.

To evade law enforcement detection, he revealed that POGO workers are blending into commercial districts where Chinese nationals and other foreigners are commonly found.

“They are hiding in plain sight,” Cruz said in a phone interview.

The PAOCC’s coordination with the BI has resulted in the deportation of approximately 2,900 foreigners.

However, to expedite the process for those still in custody, Casio said the commission has requested the NBI to revise its policy on issuing clearance for foreign workers.

Currently, the NBI requires physical copies of passports for clearance issuance, but many POGO workers no longer have their passports, as these were confiscated by their employers upon arrival in the Philippines.

“We requested the NBI to defer or remove this policy and instead allow documents from Immigration to serve as proof of identity,” Casio said, referring to the entry records of deportees as an alternative verification method.

He expressed optimism that the NBI would respond positively to the request.

At present, around 200 foreigners remain in PAOCC custody as authorities work to accelerate the deportation process.