MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Tuesday that the alleged Chinese spy it arrested may have been intercepting data to and from Comelec.

The bureau said the Chinese national was caught in possession of an international mobile subscriber identity device, or IMSI catcher, which can be used to intercept mobile communications, including text messages.

The equipment was recovered from the suspect's vehicle, parked just a few meters away from Comelec's main office in Manila.

READ: NBI arrests alleged Chinese spy near Comelec office in Manila

"Under surveillance na [ang suspect] for 4 or 5 days na. Ngayon, nung matiyempuhan sila na ang tagal na nilang nakahinto — mga 30 minutes nang nakahinto — malapit sa tanggapan ng Comelec, kinapture na natin," NBI Director Jaime Santiago said.

"Although sinasabi nga ni Comelec chief George Garcia na wala namang na-compromise sa kanila, hindi natin malalaman 'yun kasi nasasagap lang e. Wala namang masisira sa apparatus mo, walang makikita na sign na nasagap na 'yung data mo," he added.

When asked if the suspect's whereabouts were related to where the Comelec's main office is, Santiago said they do not know yet but maintains the Chinese national was around Comelec's office for three times on Tuesday.

"Hindi natin malaman kung nagkataon or what, but ngayong araw, tatlo o apat na beses na silang umiikot dyan at kada ikot ay nags-stay sila ng up to 30 minutes. So 'yung pang-apat na ikot nila, kinapture na sila," he said.

When asked if the case of the recent arrested individual with the IMSI catcher is related to other Chinese nationals apprehended with IMSI catchers, the NBI director said that investigation is still on going and that any relations within the cases are not yet fully verified.

According to Santiago, the suspect was apprehended while possessing a Chinese passport with a tourist visa for the Philippines.

The suspect is expected to face espionage cases in relation to the cybercrime law.