Authorities arrested six foreign nationals and two Filipinos as the South-East Asian nation ramps up its campaign against espionage.
The eight were apprehended on March 19 on Grande Island in Subic Bay, a strategic vantage point with a clear view of key sea lanes in the South China Sea, including the disputed Scarborough Shoal, Manila’s defence department said on Thursday.
“The arrest exposes the unlawful nature (of their activities), including suspected espionage and kidnapping activities related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, for which some foreign nationals are using Grande Island under the guise of private enterprises,” the agency said in a statement.
Authorities were serving a warrant on a Chinese national for alleged cybercrimes.
The operation comes as the Philippines is stepping up its crackdown on alleged spies amid its tensions with Beijing over the disputed South China Sea. — Bloomberg
