MANILA— The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday that it had recovered photographs and videos of naval ships, including those of foreign navies, from electronic devices saized from alleged foreign spies in Subic Bay.

The seven suspects—five Chinese nationals, one Cambodian, and one Filipino—were arrested on March 19 on Grande Island. 

They had been under surveillance for suspicious activities involving the gathering of sensitive data related to critical infrastructure.

Counterintelligence efforts revealed that the suspects were posing as recreational fishers while on the island.

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Witnesses reported that the group used high-tech drones under the pretext of transporting fishing bait. Authorities allege they were actually conducting surveillance on naval assets passing through Grande Island.

"During the operation, we also recovered some of the sample videos and photos, including a photo of a naval vessel na pag-aari po ng US (owned by the US), as well as surveillance photos dun sa ating naval operating base (of our naval operating base)," Angluben added.

The investigation found that the materials were sent to various Chinese personalities through social media platforms.

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Given the island's strategic location, it allows the group to monitor naval assets entering and exiting Subic Bay during maritime patrols or joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea. 

“This is very disturbing, this is getting alarming to all of us,” NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin emphasized.

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“The images and the contents of the gadgets recovered are being studied and reviewed carefully by our forensic laboratory. We will conduct a pattern analysis to determine whether this is connected to previous espionage arrests,” Lavin said.

The NBI is also working with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to investigate the resort leased to a foreign corporation.

Angluben said the island used to be open to the general public but access has been restricted since “it was transferred [to a] foreign company, foreign lessor."