Chinese National Arrested Near Philippine Election Commission With Suspected Spy Device Amid Rising Espionage Concerns

With the Philippines’ midterm elections just over a week away, authorities have arrested a Chinese national near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in Manila for allegedly possessing a sophisticated spying device, raising fresh alarms over possible foreign interference.

The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Lao Tak-Hoi, was apprehended on April 29 by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) while inside a gray Mitsubishi Adventure parked near Comelec’s offices in Intramuros, a sensitive government area. Inside the vehicle’s trunk, officers discovered an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher, a high-tech device capable of intercepting mobile communications within a two-mile radius.

Footage from the scene showed the surveillance device rigged with a makeshift cooling fan. According to NBI officials, the equipment had been smuggled into the country in parts and assembled locally, a tactic often used to avoid detection by customs.

“This is a serious national security threat,” warned NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin, noting the suspect had been circling Comelec premises in recent days. Surveillance footage also reportedly captured Lao and another Chinese individual handling suspected espionage equipment over the weekend.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said his team had been monitoring Lao’s movements across Makati and Taguig prior to the arrest. Lao told authorities he was a tourist taking photographs and denied owning the vehicle. However, Santiago dismissed his explanation, stating, “His alibi is simply not believable. Why would a tourist be driving around with surveillance gear?”

Lao was accompanied by a local driver allegedly paid ₱8,000 ($150) per day. Immigration records indicate he arrived in the Philippines on April 25 using a Macao-issued passport, which does not require a visa for short stays.

The arrest comes amid intensifying concerns over Chinese interference in Philippine affairs, particularly in the run-up to the May 12 midterm polls. In February, the NBI arrested two other Chinese nationals allegedly using IMSI catchers to survey sensitive locations, including Malacañang Palace, Camp Aguinaldo, Villamor Airbase, and the U.S. Embassy.

Authorities have formally charged Lao under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, the Data Privacy Act, the Espionage Act, and relevant immigration laws. Forensic analysis of the seized equipment is ongoing to determine its intended targets.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said the arrest affirms earlier Senate findings warning of Chinese espionage aimed at disrupting Philippine democracy. “This incident reinforces what we revealed: there is an active attempt to undermine our elections,” he stated, calling the operation a “timely and critical action” by the NBI.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia assured the public that election systems remain secure and uncompromised. “What was their goal? Mind conditioning? Espionage? We are investigating all possibilities,” he said.

In a related development, officials are probing a China-linked social media disinformation network allegedly operated by a Makati-based firm under contract with the Chinese Embassy. The campaign reportedly involved a troll farm of “keyboard warriors” promoting Chinese Communist Party propaganda and attempting to manipulate public opinion ahead of the elections.

The Chinese Embassy has denied the accusations, dismissing them as politically motivated claims by Philippine officials seeking election leverage. However, tensions between Manila and Beijing have continued to escalate in recent days, especially after the Chinese Coast Guard raised its flag on a disputed sandbar near a Philippine-held island in the South China Sea.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año warned citizens to remain vigilant against fake news and foreign attempts to sow discord. “There are no documents proving claims that the U.S. is influencing Philippine politics. These are fabrications meant to divide us,” he said.

The NBI has also cautioned against spreading ‘rage bait’ content online—a tactic designed to provoke emotional reactions and amplify disinformation through social media algorithms.

As the nation braces for the May 12 vote, officials from multiple branches of government are urging calm, vigilance, and fact-checking, while calling for stronger counterintelligence measures to protect the country’s democratic institutions.