CIDG: Cybercrime raps to be filed vs Chinese as vids, pics, contacts found in gadgets

The Chinese man who was initially arrested for pointing a gun in Makati City will face cybercrime complaints after videos, photos, contacts, and data were found in high-tech gadgets seized from him, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Thursday.

CIDG chief Police Major General Leo Francisco told GMA News Online that these complaints include illegal interception and misuse of devices under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

“Additional cases to be filed  are illegal interception and misuse of devices (RA 1175) Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Gadgets were found to have videos, pictures, datas, numbers and other documents,” Francisco said in a message.

When asked if the data were suspicious, a threat, or dangerous, Francisco said that he cannot divulge specific details as they will be filing more complaints.

In a press conference, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said there is also evidence that would establish that the said gadgets were used for scams.

“Kasama po doon sa na-recover nilang ebidensya doon sa mga gadget, it appears po na meron po doong mga na-recover po sila na mga ebidensya that would establish na nagagamit po ito sa scamming activities,” she said.

(It appears that there is evidence recovered that would establish these gadgets were used in scamming activities.)

Initially, the Chinese national was arrested over a gun-pointing incident in Makati City in May but authorities also seized from him some high-tech and military-grade equipment.

In June, a Makati court authorized the conduct of a digital forensic examination on the high-tech and military-grade devices recovered from the Chinese citizen.

The concerned items include one iPhone 15, one antenna system multi-band directional, two pieces of battery units, one solar inverter, one radio receiver/transmitter, one Huawei router, one Apple tablet, two mobile phones, one laptop, one inverter unit, one aerial drone, one CPU, and one portable power station.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that they were checking whether the devices they retrieved from the Chinese citizen were possibly used for communications hacking.

Asked if the police will also pursue an espionage complaint against the Chinese national, Francisco said, “Wala pa sa punto na ‘yun (We are not at that point yet).”

According to Fajardo, further examination will be conducted on the devices that could lead to the possible filing of additional complaints including espionage. However, she noted that it is premature to speculate such a violation at this point.— Joviland Rita/RSJ/RF, GMA Integrated News