NBI, SBMA joint ops lead to arrest of Chinese nationals allegedly involved in kidnapping, illegal POGO

A joint enforcement operation between the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) was conducted against Chinese nationals at the Grande Island here on March 19, 2025.

 

Led by NBI Director Judge Jaime Santiago, the operation resulted to the arrest of six foreign nationals and two Filipino nationals, including Chinese national Qiu Feng, whose real name is Ye Tianwu (also known as Qing Feng).

 

Ye Tianwu 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.

 

Aside from Ye Tianwu, Philippine authorities also apprehended Xu Xining; Ye Xiaocan; Su Anlong; and He Peng; along with Cambodian Ang Deck/Dick; and Filipinos Melvin Mañosa Aguillon, Jr. and Jeffrey Espiridion, who are employees of Ang Deck/Dick. The authorities recovered mutiple cellphones and laptops, one caliber 9mm firearm, and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

 

Meanwhile, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño lauded the efforts of the inter-agency group led by Director Santiago to apprehend suspects, and assured that “Subic Bay Freeport is NOT a safe haven for lawbreakers.”

 

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

 

The Department of National Defense (DND) confirmed the report, citing that the DENR 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.

 

“This will ultimately help secure the operations of the Subic Special Economic 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.” (MPD-SBMA)

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4 cops, 1 civilian held in Subic shabu lab bust

Four members of the police force in Olongapo City were arrested here early this morning along with a civilian suspect in connection with the discovery and dismantling of a clandestine laboratory used in the manufacture of illegal drugs.

A report from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police in the National Capitol Region (PNP CIDG-NCR) identified the policemen as PLt Reynato Basa Jr., PCpl Gino dela Cruz, PCpl Edesyr Victor Alipio, and PCpl Godfrey Duclayan Parentela. All were assigned at Station 2 of the Olongapo City Police Office.

The lone civilian arrested in the operation was Jericho Dabu, a resident of Olongapo, who tried to sell one kilo of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu to a poseur-buyer from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The sting operation was carried out at 336-B Finback Street, Kalayaan, Subic Bay Freeport by the PDEA NCR and Region 3 offices, PNP-CIDG Northern Manila, PNP-CIDG Zambales, PNP Maritime Group, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Intelligence and Investigation Office (SBMA-IIO).

The authorities confiscated from the suspects 300 grams of suspected shabu, various laboratory equipment and chemicals used in the manufacture of drugs, four Glock 17 9mm pistols, five cellular phones, a Honda Civic 1996 sedan with plate number UKM 779, and bundles of boodle money used in the sting operation.

According to the SBMA-IIO, the operation started at about 2 pm on Thursday, January 14, when operatives conducted surveillance in the area.

At past midnight, the authorities proceeded with a buy-bust operation which netted Dabu, who was caught receiving marked money in exchange for one kilo of shabu.

The arrest led to the discovery of the clandestine drug laboratory, which SBMA-IIO described as a “kitchen-type operation,” as well as to the arrest of the alleged policemen-protectors inside the house where the laboratory was located.

Unconfirmed reports from the PNP indicated that the syndicate behind the illegal drugs operation was headed by a foreign national, who is now the subject of follow-up operations.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, meanwhile, commended the law enforcement units involved in the operation “for ferreting out this scourge that erodes the very ideals of the Subic Bay Freeport as an investment and economic growth center.”

“The SBMA will always support our law enforcement agencies in ridding our society of elements that degrade our decent and lawful way of life,” Eisma said.

The SBMA chief also called on residents and other stakeholders in the Freeport to be vigilant.

“Let us care for each other in this community. Let us know our neighbors and contribute all we can to keep Subic safe for everybody,” she added. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

Operatives make an inventory of evidences seized at the clandestine drug laboratory where four police officers and one civilian were arrested on January 15. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA police nabs Chinese carnap suspect

Security officers of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) arrested a Chinese national here at the Subic Freeport after he and a companion took a vehicle at knifepoint along the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX).

Investigators at the SBMA Law Enforcement Department identified the suspect as Bin Zhang, 24 years old, with address at Silver City 4 Condominium in Pasig City.

Bin was arrested by SBMA security officers at 9:05 p.m. on Sunday at the vicinity of the Subic Gateway Hub where the stolen vehicle, a white Hyundai Starex with plate number KOP-347, was recovered earlier.

Investigators said Bin did not speak any English and his companion, who is yet to be identified, still remained at large as of Monday morning.

According to complainant George Villanueva, an on-call driver from Kawit, Cavite, he picked up the two suspects at Ortigas in Manila at about 3:00 p.m. on Sunday upon the instruction of his boss, a certain Mr. Wong.

Villanueva said he was told to bring the passengers to Buma Hotel in the Subic Bay Freeport.

However, upon reaching the Tipo Gate of the SFEX at about 6:00 p.m., the suspects allegedly poked him with a cutter knife. Villanueva escaped and the culprits immediately drove away toward the Subic Bay Freeport.

Villanueva thereafter sought the help of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway patrol and at 7:53 p.m. found the stolen vehicle parked near a bank along the Rizal Highway here.

Responding SBMA security officers soon apprehended Bin at the Gateway Park area at 9:05 p.m.

The suspect was later turned over to the Philippine National Police office in Hermosa, Bataan for proper filing of the case.

Under Philippine law, carnapping is a crime punishable with imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) years and one (1) day but not more than forty (40) years, when it is committed by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or force upon things.

Moreover, aliens convicted under the provisions of the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 are to be deported immediately after service of sentence without further proceedings by the Deportation Board. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO: 

Suspect Bin Zhang after his arrest by SBMA security officers (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA police seize P40 million smuggled liquor

Police operatives from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) foiled an attempt to smuggle more than P40-million worth of liquor here and seized the contraband even before they could be spirited out of the Subic Bay Freeport on Christmas Eve.

The SBMA Law Enforcement Department seized a total of 1,321 boxes of expensive liquor from a closed van that was about to leave the Freeport on Dec. 24, and from a 40-footer container van parked at the Subic Seaport Terminal.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma lauded the alertness and efficacy of the SBMA law enforcers in foiling the smuggling attempt.

“Some unscrupulous parties would really take advantage of the Christmas season to try to pull away illegal activities in the Freeport, but this only proves that the SBMA Law Enforcement Department is ready at all times to do their duty,” Eisma said after receiving the report.

“This is a job well done for the SBMA and another huge failure for those who try to use Subic for their smuggling operation,” Eisma added.

According to a report by Maj. Vicente Tolentino, head of the SBMA Law Enforcement Department, the seized contraband included 54 bottles of Remy Martin Louis XIII, which sells as much as P170,000 per bottle, and eight boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, which fetches P60,000 per bottle.

Tolentino said the SBMA police began the operation on Christmas Eve after a tipster informed them that a closed van and a Nissan Patrol SUV would attempt to smuggle contraband from the Freeport.

He said that operatives posted along the Argonaut Highway monitored the vehicles and tailed them to the 14th Street Gate where they were stopped by sentries.

The Fuso van, bearing File No. 036404 of BCR Trucking, was driven by 41-year old Julio Flores, along with helper Marvin Arcega, 46 years old. The two failed to present necessary documents when accosted by the police, Tolentino said.

The van contained 275 boxes of Remy Martin Cognac Champagne, 448 boxes of Martini, 66 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 17 boxes of Remy Martin Champagne, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, 7 boxes of Remy Martin Club, and 7 boxes of Remy Martin.

A follow-up operation on Thursday led operatives to a white Isuzu Giga cab with the markings “Sinfa Logistics Inc.”, which was parked at the Subic Seaport Terminal in the Boton Wharf.

The 40-footer container van on its trailer contained the rest of the contraband: 333 boxes of Remy Martin, 196 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 1 box of Remy Martin Club, 1 box of Martini, 2 boxes of Remy Martin, and 10 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII.

Tolentino said the SBMA police conducted an inventory of the smuggled items last Thursday and Friday in the presence of representatives from the Bureau of Customs, the SBMA Seaport Department and members of the media.

On Friday, Tolentino formally turned over the items and the vehicles containing them to Ciriaco Ugay, OIC-Collector of the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Subic. (JEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA police operatives and workers unload boxes of smuggled liquor for inventory at the Law Enforcement Department office on Friday. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA vigilant against entry of illegal drugs

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is closely working with law enforcement agencies to strictly monitor incoming vessels here against the possible entry of illegal drugs in the country via the Port of Subic.

This is in consonance with the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs, said SBMA Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.

Just recently, elements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region III, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Olongapo City, SBMA Seaport and SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) conducted a joint operation following intelligence reports that a ship arriving here was carrying illegal drugs.

According to a report from the SBMA Law Enforcement Department, the ship in question was a Panamax vessel carrying a cargo of soya from the United States. It arrived at the port of Subic early in May and anchored outside the limits of the SBMA Seaport.

Upon its arrival, government law enforcers led by PDEA, PCG and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group boarded and search the vessel using K-9 drug sniffing dogs, with SBMA Seaport and LED representatives observing the operations.

The search turned out negative and the operation was terminated on Tuesday, authorities here said.

Administrator Eisma said the recent inter-agency operation was a clear sign that the agency will not tolerate the entry of illegal drugs through the Port of Subic.

She said there are strict procedures and safety nets in place to ensure that no contraband, especially illegal drugs, could enter the country through the port of Subic.

“The SBMA is also implementing random checks for illegal substance that might be on board any of these incoming vessels,” Eisma added.

The administrator also issued a stern warning against those who are even thinking of shipping illegal drugs into the country and using Subic Bay as the port of entry, saying they will be harshly dealt with the full force of the law. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

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6 recovered ‘rent-a-car-scam’ vehicles turned over to NBI

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) formally turned over to the custody of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) six vehicles allegedly involved in a “rent/sangla car modus operandi” that were recovered inside an import-export yard here.

The turnover held Thursday (March 9) was led by SBMA Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs Atty. Randy Escolango and NBI-Olongapo Special Investigator Norman Revita in the presence of PO3 Allan Ednave of Olongapo City Police, SPO2 Angelito Gapay of PNP Highway Patrol Group, Maj. Vicente Tolentino of SBMA Law Enforcement Department and Ichiban manager Bienvenido Perez.

The vehicles consisting of a white Toyota Fortuner (AOA 9361), white Toyota Hi-Ace (PZI 851), black Toyota HiAce (AKA 8187), silver Toyota Hi-Ace (UEO 559), black Mitsubishi Montero (conduction sticker: NI 2417) and maroon Mitsubishi Montero (CS: NE 3182) were discovered inside Ichiban building.

Ichiban Import-Export Corporation is an import and recondition facility of used trucks and construction machineries from Japan for sale to local market or for re-export to the international market, located in Argonaut Highway, Lower Mau Camp, inside the Freeport.

In a report by SBMA police, owners Roy Galang, Jerry Galang, Joseph dela Cruz and Mac Lawrence Pilamor claimed that their vehicles were rented by certain Earl Meredith and Roldan Bernaldo, in April 2016 and December 2016. However, the vehicles were never returned since until they received information that the vehicles were being kept inside Ichiban building.

At 6:50 a.m. of March 8, policemen from SBMA, Olongapo City and HPG (R3), and victim-owners Roy Galang, Jerry Galang, Charina Ticsay and Angil Dave Zafra trooped to Ichiban and found their missing vehicles, a Toyota Commuter Van (PZI 851), Toyota Grandia (AKA 8187), Toyota Grandia (UEO 559) and Toyota Fortuner (AOA 9361).

Hours later, one Leslie de Vera, appeared at SBMA Law Enforcement Department to claim two Mitsubishi Montero (NE 3182 and NI 2417) which were also found at Ichiban. (Ruben Veloria, Journal.com.ph)

http://www.journal.com.ph/news/provincial/6-recovered-rent-a-car-scam-vehicles-turned-over-to-nbi

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SBMA UPDATE #2: STOLEN RENTED VEHICLES RECOVERED AS A RESULT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN PNP, NBI and SBMA

Through hard work and cooperation of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), six stolen vehicles inside the Subic Bay Freeport were recovered.

The PNP, NBI and the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) are working together to crack the case and will continue to do so until everyone involved had been brought to justice.

Authorities recovered last night (March 8) six commuter vehicles at the Ichiban yard inside the Freeport that were allegedly rented and never returned to its owners since December last year by suspect Roldan Bernardo.

We assure the public that the SBMA will not let up until the perpetrators are dealt with accordingly. The SBMA will not allow the Freeport to become a haven of any form of criminality.

ATTY. WILMA AMY EISMA
SBMA Administrator

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STATEMENT OF THE SBMA ON THE REPORTED THEFT AND RECOVERY OF SIX RENT-A-CAR VEHICLES (UPDATED)

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will not tolerate any form of criminality inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (Freeport). Anyone caught committing any criminal offense within the Freeport will be dealt with the full extent of the law.

The SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Olongapo City are working together to investigate the reported theft of six rental vehicles recovered tonight (March 8) at the Ichiban yard inside the Freeport.

Authorities have now identified the suspect as a certain Roldan Bernardo who allegedly rented in December 2016 two commuter vehicles and a Grandia van from complainants Roy and Gerry Galang of  Olongapo City, owners of the said vehicles for rent.

Also spotted at the yard by authorities were two more vehicles believed to have also been rented by the suspect- a Toyota Fortuner reportedly owned by a Mr. Zafra and two units of Mitsubishi Montero.

The SBMA shall actively monitor the case and will assist in any way to ensure that proper charges will be filed against the suspect.

Again, we issue this warning: The SBMA will be tough on anyone who will be caught violating law and order inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

ATTY. WILMA AMY EISMA
SBMA Administrator

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