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GRANDE ISLAND. An aerial view of the Grande Island recreational facility taken in 1983.
PH2 R. Manary via Wikimedia Commons
The Department of National Defense bares the plan following the arrest of several foreigners and Filipinos for 'suspected espionage and kidnapping activities' related to POGOs in Grande Island in Subic Bay
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of National Defense (DND) said on Thursday, March 20, that it is eyeing Grande Island in Subic Bay, Zambales, and Chiquita Islands in Bataan as military reservations, following the arrest of several people over suspected cybercrimes in one of the small but strategic islands.
The DND said in a press statement that a total of six foreigners and two Filipinos were arrested in Grande Island, after a warrant of arrest was served on Chinese national Qiu Feng, whose real name is Ye Tianwu (also known as Qing Feng) on Wednesday morning, March 19.
The DND described Grande Island as “a strategic vantage point with a clear view of key sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea, including Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).”
“The Department looks forward to working with the concerned agencies, including the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), in exploring the possibility of declaring Grande Island, along with nearby Chiquita Island, as military reservations,” the department said.
“This will ultimately help secure the operations of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone including the Riviera Wharf and the Subic Bay International Airport, in consonance with the ongoing development of the naval operating base of the Philippine Navy to strengthen and maintain our strategic presence along our western seaboard,” it added.
Ye was arrested for violations of Republic Act (RA) 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code, and RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The arrest was carried out by a composite team of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the SBMA.
The others arrested were Xu Xining, Ye Xiaocan, Su Anlong, He Peng, Cambodian Ang Deck/Dick, and Melvin Mañosa Aguillon Jr. and Jeffrey Espiridion. Mutiple cellphones and laptops, one caliber 9mm firearm, and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition were seized during the arrest.
“The arrest exposes the unlawful nature, including suspected espionage and kidnapping activities related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), for which some foreign nationals are using Grande Island under the guise of private enterprises,” the DND said.
“Such activities, which may be part of larger criminal network operations, pose a serious threat to our national security,” the agency added.
As early as 2019, the Philippine military had sounded the alarm about plans of the administration of then-president Rodrigo Duterte to allow Chinese investors to develop Grande and Chiquita Islands, as well as Fuga Island in Aparri, Cagayan, as these could compromise national security.
During the previous administration, then-defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana had said that Chinese plans to build economic and tourism zones on the three islands would make the Philippines vulnerable to Chinese spying.
Chinese company Fong Zhi Enterprise Corporation had planned to build a $2-billion “smart city” on Fuga Island. Following the uproar over the plan, the Philippine Navy and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority formalized a plan to build a naval detachment on Fuga Island, which was established in August 2020. The planned Chinese project was not pursued. – Rappler.com
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