By Henry Empeño | March 20, 2025

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Authorities arrested on Wednesday, March 19, five Chinese nationals, one Cambodian national, and two Filipinos for suspected illegal activities related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) here at Grande Island, a strategic outpost guarding the seaside entrance to this special economic and free port zone.

A statement from the Department of National Defense (DND) said the arrests were made by a composite team from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) upon serving a warrant of arrest on Chinese national Qiu Feng, whose real name is Ye Tianwu, also known as Qing Feng.

Ye Tianwu, the DND said, was arrested for violations under Republic Act 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code, and RA 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. 

Those also arrested in the Grande Island raid were Chinese nationals Xu Xining, Ye Xiaocan, Su Anlong, and He Peng; Cambodian national Ang Deck/Dick; and Filipinos Melvin Mañosa Aguillon, Jr. and Jeffrey Espiridion, who were identified as employees of Ang Deck/Dick.

The raiding team led by NBI Director Jaime Santiago reportedly recovered several cellphones and laptops, one caliber 9mm firearm, and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition from the suspects.

The arrest, the DND said, “exposes the unlawful nature, including suspected espionage and kidnapping activities related to POGO, for which some foreign nationals are using Grande Island under the guise of private enterprises.”

“Such activities, which may be part of larger criminal network operations, pose a serious threat to our national security,” it added.

The DND statement also pointed out the need to secure the Subic Bay Freeport, including the Subic Bay International Airport and sea ports in the bay area, in consonance with the ongoing development of the naval operating base of the Philippine Navy at the Redondo Peninsula across the Subic Bay.

“The Department looks forward to working with the concerned agencies, including the SBMA, in exploring the possibility of declaring Grande Island, along with nearby Chiquita Island, as military reservations,” it added.

It may be recalled that a group of Chinese investors had wanted to take effective control of Grande and Chiquita Islands to further develop them as tourism destinations, but the SBMA had placed the project on hold in 2019 due to “unresolved issues.”

Meanwhile, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño lauded the efforts of the inter-agency group led by NBI to apprehend suspects and ensure that the Subic Bay Freeport won’t be a safe haven for lawbreakers. 