The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed charges against an alleged spy ring operating on Grande Island in Subic Bay and arrested six Chinese nationals and one Filipino for allegedly conducting illegal surveillance and espionage activities on Philippine and US naval facilities.
They were identified as He Peng (a.k.a. Nan Ke), Xu Xining, Ye Tianwu (a.k.a. Qui Feng/Quing Feng), Ye Xiaocan, Dick Ang, Su Anlong and Filipino bodyguard Melvin Aguillon, who were caught operating high-tech drones and collecting sensitive military intelligence while posing as recreational fishers.
Report showed that authorities were tipped off after military intelligence units detected suspicious activities on the island, which is a key strategic location overlooking naval movements in and out of Subic Bay.
Surveillance revealed the group frequently lingered at the wharf allegedly using drones under the pretense of transporting fishing bait.
However, these drones were actually recording naval operations, including patrols and joint military exercises.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) flagged the activity as a potential foreign espionage operation by linking it to geopolitical tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
On 19 March 2025, NBI Director Jaime Santiago personally led a team of NBI agents, AFP intelligence officers and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority law enforcers in raiding the suspects’ hideout.
Seized during the operation were: Photographs and documents of Philippine and US naval assets, electronic gadgets containing surveillance photos and videos, fake BIR and identification documents and an unregistered firearm (found in Aguillon’s possession).
A background check revealed that Ye Tianwu (a.k.a. Qui Feng/Quing Feng) had an outstanding arrest warrant for violations of the Securities Regulation Code issued by RTC Branch 63, Tarlac City.
The suspects were brought before the Bataan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on 21 March 2025, facing charges of: Espionage (Commonwealth Act No. 616), Falsification of documents (RPC Art. 172 & 178), Violation of RA 10593 (Comprehensive Firearms Act) and Comelec gun ban.
The arrests brings to 15 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese nationals, arrested in espionage involving intelligence gathering on critical Philippine infrastructure.
NBI NCR director and spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said the new arrested espionage suspects have been in and out of the country.