Two Chinese nationals and three Filipinos have been arrested for suspected spying on Malacanang, military and police camps and other vital installations, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the Chinese were Ni Qinhui and Zheng Wei, who were arrested in a series of operations together with Filipinos Omar Khan Joveres, Leo Panti and Mark Angelo Binza on Feb. 20.

The suspects underwent inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice where they were charged for espionage under Commonwealth Act 616 and violating Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The Chinese were arrested in a condominium unit in Malate.

The operations were based on an intelligence packet from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), which showed several vehicles equipped with international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catchers conducting signal intelligence on military and police camps, national government assets and other essential systems in Metro Manila.

“These individuals were conducting covert and unauthorized intelligence gathering activities, posing a threat to national security,” AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a joint press briefing. DMS