Chinese national arrested in Makati; Suspected hacking devices seized

MANILA, Philippines – A Chinese national was arrested in Makati City on Wednesday afternoon on charges of illegally possessing a firearm and inducing the victim to deliver unidentified hacking devices to his home, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

In Thursday’s report, CIDG identified the suspect as Yuhang Liu, whom authorities placed a collar on Finlandia Street at the corner of Codornico St., Barangay San Isidro around 4:19 p.m.

Suspect Yuhang Liu was pinned by authorities along Finlandia Street, corner Codornico St., Barangay San Isidro, on May 29, 2024. INQUIRER.net/Faith Argosino

Police said they received a distress call from a victim who was reportedly threatened and forced by Liu to “move to various important installations and public places in order to hack the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers of cell phones and other electronic devices or gaining access to them.”

CIDG agents confirmed the report and conducted surveillance of the area where the suspect was arrested with a gun in his belt.

“This aroused reasonable suspicion among the unit’s staff, prompting them to accost the suspect. When asked for identification and a permit to possess such a weapon, he did not provide any, which led to his arrest and confiscation of the weapon,” CIDG reports.

Following the arrest, CIDG said its agents together with Makati Police Station personnel confiscated the following items from the suspect:

• P15,000
• Seven cell phones
• Gun
• Magazine and live ammunition
• Single-unit multi-band directional antenna system
• Two batteries
• Solar inverter unit
• Radio receiver or transmitter
• Router
• Tablet
• Laptop
• Power bank and fan

Items confiscated from suspect Yuhang Liu at the CIDG office. INQUIRER.net / Faith of Argosino

Authorities conducted further operation after discovering that the suspect also kept more equipment in an apartment at Marina Seaview Residence in Paranaque City.

Four identification cards, an inverter, an aerial drone, a keyboard, a processor and a portable power plant were found at the scene.

Liu is currently in CIDG custody for violating Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act and RA 8484 or the Access Devices Act relating to RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

CIDG Public Information Office chief Col. Imelda Reyes said they were investigating all possibilities to explain why the suspect had such high-tech gadgets, including the possibility that he was a “spy.”