NBI probes alleged Chinese spy network after IMSI catcher arrest

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is probing a suspected Chinese spy network following the arrest of a Chinese national with an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher.

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin confirmed that the device accessed data of approximately 5,000 mobile subscribers, including state workers and passersby.

The IMSI catcher, capable of intercepting communications and tracking location data within a 500-meter to 3-kilometer range, was operated near sensitive locations such as the Supreme Court, Department of Justice, Villamor Air Base, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Commission on Elections.

NBI officials believe this arrest is linked to a larger, covert, and highly compartmentalized espionage network.

The NBI is seeking a warrant to examine the computer data from the IMSI catcher and expects to release an initial report before the May 12 election.