In a pivotal development, the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 has granted the Philippine National Police (PNP) authority to examine the communication equipment and gadgets seized from Yuhang Liu, a Chinese national arrested under suspicion of espionage.
Liu, apprehended last month in Makati City for illegal possession of firearms and suspected communication hacking devices, faces intensified scrutiny following the issuance of a warrant to disclose computer data (WDCD). This authorization empowers the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct a forensic examination.
Colonel Jean Fajardo, PNP’s public information office chief, confirmed that the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) will lead the forensic examination. “The next step is for CIDG to endorse the approved cyber warrants to the ACG,” Fajardo disclosed during a recent briefing at Camp Crame.
Sources within the ACG, speaking anonymously, stated they are awaiting the official endorsement letter to commence their analysis of the seized devices.
According to PNP documentation, Liu lacked authorization from the National Telecommunications Commission to possess the seized equipment found in both his vehicle in Makati and his condominium in Parañaque.
Amid tight security measures, Liu remains detained at Camp Crame as investigators delve deeper into potential implications of his alleged activities. The case marks a critical juncture in Philippine efforts to combat foreign espionage, with broader implications for national security and legal precedent.
