Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Annie Perez

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754877745607cropped-viber_image_2025-08-11_09-59-19 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The two foreign nationals were arrested for violating immigration laws after hotel personnel became suspicious about their devices left in their room. Photo courtesy of NBI-7</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent">CEBU CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation uncovered “spy devices” at a hotel in the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City on Friday.</span></div><div><br/></div><p>NBI-Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center said the devices were from two Malaysian-Chinese nationals disguising as tourists and staying in hotels—but were allegedly involved in the “distribution and usage of illicit transceivers.&quot;</p><p>The two were arrested for violating immigration laws after hotel personnel became suspicious about their devices left in their room.</p><p>“This connotes the modus of scammers to shift their area of operation from building offices and residential homes to hotels and resorts,” the NBI said.</p><p>Upon investigation, it was found that they had in possession “sniffers” or computer programs or hardware devices that analyze network traffic, capturing and examining data packets.</p><p>“They can be used for legitimate purposes like network troubleshooting or for malicious purposes like capturing sensitive information,” read a part of the Bureau’s statement.</p><p>Upon the acquisition of a warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data, authorities uncovered antennas and other modular set ups in their hotel room.</p><p>“They are cellular and data sniffers,” their statement added.</p><p>The equipment also lacked approval from NTC.</p><p>All the equipment will undergo in-depth forensic examination and will be used as evidence for the possible filing of violation of RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 against the suspects.</p>

<p>NBI-Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center said the devices were from two Malaysian-Chinese nationals disguising as tourists but were allegedly involved in the “distribution and usage of illicit transceivers."</p>

NBI-Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center said the devices were from two Malaysian-Chinese nationals disguising as tourists but were allegedly involved in the “distribution and usage of illicit transceivers."

'Spying' devices found from Malaysians-Chinese nationals in Cebu

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'Spying' devices found from Malaysians-Chinese nationals in Cebu

Annie Perez

Published August 11, 2025 10:12 AM PHT

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