By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Law enforcers arrested two Chinese nationals and seized from them an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher, an equipment capable of intercepting messages from communication gadgets like cellular phones used for spying, a police official said on Thursday.
Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the CIDG operatives, along with local police and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), nabbed the two Chinese nationals, identified as Feng and Shi, in Primavera Homes, Brgy. Sabang, Baliuag, Bulacan on Wednesday.
Torre said the IMSI catcher is a dangerous device that could compromise the privacy of individuals and even national security.
The operation stemmed from reports of possible espionage involving two foreign nationals.
“With the arrest of the suspects and confiscation of these devices, we significantly prevented cybercrimes and possible intercepting, storing, and utilizing information obtained from various communication equipment, particularly cellphones, from happening,” Torre said.
The suspects, detained at the CIDG Bulacan Provincial Field Unit, will be charged before the National Prosecution Office for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. (PNA)
