Initial information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) obtained from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) identified the arrested individuals as Jiang Peng, Liu Qiao Zhi, Huang Du, Chen Pingxing, Xia Fayong, and Fan Sheng Jian.

All 6 were aboard a Nissan X-Trail vehicle (XTP 513) that government agents flagged down in the guise of having committed traffic violations.

Also seized from the suspects was a .45 Caliber pistol with seven (7) live bullets, cellphones, IDs, wallets and passports.

Intelligence sources said two (2) other vehicles, a Toyota Alphard and a Hi-Ace Van, were able to get away, or avoid the dragnet.

Aside from PDEA National Capital Region (NCR), the composite team included operatives of the Intelligence Service-Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), manifesting the immensity of the operation.

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“I have been in touch with Sec. (Delfin) Lorenzana and Sec. (Hermogenes) Esperon” Eisma said, “the Coast Guard is taking lead (in verifying the presence and purpose of the vessel) assisted by SBMA Harbor Patrol.”

Why the suspected Chinese Ship entered Subic Bay is yet to be determined but officials say said it could be to seek shelter from bad weather. However, while it is cloudy in the vicinity of Subic Bay, there is hardly rains all morning while at times, the sun even shines through.

This bustling Freeport is a former US Naval Base and the sentiment of locals tend to lean toward the United States, frowning at Chinese presence that has recently surged as a result of widespread operations of Online Gambling that hire only Chinese nationals from mainland China.

This development came at a time when the Philippines, notwithstanding President Rodrigo Duterte’s defeatist pronouncements regarding Chinese incursions, occupation and use of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippines Sea, is locked in a dispute over rights in the said area.

A US Navy Ship, the destroyer USS Mccampbel, left Subic earlier this morning after a three-day stay. The USS Mccampbell is one several escort vessels of the US Nuclear-powered SuperAircraft Carrier USS Ronald Reagan presently on a port visit of Manila Bay.

It is not known whether the suspected Chinese vessel’s presence has anything to do with the US Navy ships visit to Subic and Manila Bay.

pls. see update: Chinese on board but not Chinese Vessel – SBMA Harbor Patrol

“Parang bay cruise ng Chinese,” Eisma told Subic Bay News.

Earlier, SBMA authorities were swamped with reports of sightings of Chinese vessels in Subic Bay prompting the SBMA Chair & Administrator to alert the Dept. of National Defense (DND) and National Security Adviser.

“I have been in touch with Sec. (Delfin) Lorenzana and (National Sec. Adviser Hermogenes) Esperon on this,” Eisma said.

She said the Coast Guard and SBMA Harbor Patrol (HP) were dispatched to check on the vessel.

At past 5pm today, Eisma said they finally confirmed that the vessel was not Chinese, albeit Chinese nationals were on board for “leisure.”

The alleged Chinese vessel’s presence immediately caused an uproar on Social Media from locals with rising sentiments on the surge of Chinese national’s presence in Subic due to Online Gambling operations which employs mainly Chinese from mainland China.

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chair & Administrator, Wilma T. Eisma, while Chinese nationals were on board on a “leisure” cruise of Subic Bay, the vessel was found to be owned by a non-Chinese foreign businessman based in Subic.

Upon receiving reports of the sighting, Eisma immediately alerted Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and National Sec. Adviser Hermogenes Esperon over the alleged presence of a suspected Chinese Vessel that anchored off the coast of Subic Bay.

In a message to Subic Bay News, Eisma said she has apologized to Lorenzana and Esperon for the false alarm.

“I’m so sorry but it seems it’s a false alarm,” Eisma said in her text message to both Lorenzana and Esperon, “It’s a big yacht that has Chinese tourists on Board MV BALENA ll whose owner is based here in Subic.”

Eisma added “however, this is a good reason that we meet already so we can have protocols in place for special circumstances.”

SBMA has already issued a clarification in a press statement.

However, netizens still demand to determine the real purpose of the Chinese in going around the bay aboard the vessel.