Tag: espionage

America Tags BYD, Alibaba, Baidu And Others For Involvement With Chinese Military

America Tags BYD, Alibaba, Baidu And Others For Involvement With Chinese Military

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Business giants Alibaba, Baidu, BYD and many other Chinese companies have officially been identified by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) as entities that were involved with the military of Communist China, according to a Kyodo News report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…

The U.S. Defense Department said Monday it has added Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Baidu Inc., BYD Co. and other leading Chinese companies to a long list of entities it believes to be working with China’s military.

The expansion of the list comes after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to stabilize bilateral relations during talks in Beijing in mid-May, despite intense geopolitical rivalry and disputes over numerous issues.

In designating the companies, the U.S. department asserted that BYD, China’s largest electric vehicle maker, and internet titans Alibaba and Baidu contribute to the country’s defense industrial base as they are affiliated with its Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The Pentagon believes China’s “military-civil fusion” strategy has helped modernize the People’s Liberation Army. It is required by law to annually update and publish the list of so-called Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly in the United States.

While appearing on the list does not lead immediately to legal steps by U.S. agencies, such as export controls or sanctions, the reputations of those named can be impacted. The department is also restricted from entering into contracts with designated entities.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think this development will influence other governments and corporations to avoid signing contracts with Chinese companies that have been working with China’s military? Do you think your local or regional government has signed deals with any of the Chinese companies that have been tagged by the US Department of Defense? Are you concerned that Chinese businesses have stolen technologies and other pieces of critical information from your nation’s government or the private sector?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Team 7 #3 (1994)

A Look Back at Team 7 #3 (1994)

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1995 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the original WildStorm universe through one of the comic books of the first mini-series of Team 7.

For the newcomers reading this, Team 7 is set in the past within the original WildStorm universe. This is the special forces team that had major WildStorm heroes – Grifter (WildCATS: Covert Action Teams), Backlash, Jackson Dane (Wetworks), John Lynch (Gen13) and Michael Cray (Deathblow) – who were younger, were proficient with combat and gained special abilities as a result of a sinister move by their superiors. Issue #2 took place after the team got exposed to something they never anticipated and their superiors knew it.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Team 7 #3, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Aron Wiesenfeld. This is the 3rd chapter of a 4-issue mini-series.

The cover.

Early story

Set in the 1970s, the surviving Team 7 members (already exposed to the chemical agent) are in the middle of a new mission somewhere in East Africa. Because their teammate Johnson abused his new power to manipulate a black general to kill himself against his own will, Cole Cash eliminates Johnson causing John Lynch to be outraged. Cash tells Lynch that Johnson lost himself completely. He also tells him to list Johnson as MIA (missing-in-action) and turn a blind eye as before.

Lynch points his gun at Cash’s head believing he is standing for the mission and rules. After Cash tells him that they are monsters and that the world is better off without them, Lynch relents and shoots the wall instead. The mission concludes and Team 7 goes home by helicopter.

As the ride goes on, John Lynch thinks very deeply about everything that happened since they got exposed to the chemical agent. He realizes that they were exposed to genetic altering elements and wonders if he and his teammates were nothing more than lab rats for International Operations (IO)…

Quality

John Lynch in the presence of his traitorous superiors following the East African operation.

If there is anything notable here apart from the continued dark and gritty tone, the plot really thickened clearly. At this stage, it is more obvious that the superiors have indeed something more sinister planned for Team 7 to endure. They know that the infected team members are closing ranks to protect itself which means they are ready for the so-called final test.

Along the way, John Lynch gradually realizes the evil of his superiors and being the field leader, he begins to analyze what is best for him and his teammates and which options to take knowing the betrayal from above. Quitting is simply not an option for Lynch and the pressure builds up as the story went on. Cole Cash here sees things very clearly and he easily became the pathfinder among Team 7 members. When he scolds his teammate Fairchild (father of Gen13’s Caitlin Fairchild) for abusing his power in a public place while off-duty, it is clear that Cash wants to keep the team together by means of keeping together while maintaining sanity.

As for Team 7 itself, there is something intriguing that awaits readers once they start their new mission here. I won’t spoil it and it has to be seen. Simply grab a copy of this comic book, read it and pay attention to the details. It’s strong stuff from the creative team.

Conclusion

Cole Cash (Grifter) talks sense into John Lynch about what has really been going on and why they have become monsters.

Team 7 #3 (1994) has a lot of intrigue as the plot thickened. At this stage, it is clear that IO is really up to no good and Team 7 is symbolically their scientific and military experiment. Fortunately for the team, they have John Lynch and Cole Cash as the reasonable members who are able to cut through the noise and became aware of what IO has been executing. The stage is set for the concluding issue and this comic book is indeed a solid build-up and also an engaging WildStorm read.

Overall, Team 7 #3 (1994) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Better than Streaming: I Now Have For Your Eyes Only On Blu-ray

Better than Streaming: I Now Have For Your Eyes Only On Blu-ray

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Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!

When it comes to the seven James Bond movies that the late Roger Moore starred in, 1981’s For Your Eyes Only is my favorite. To put things short, the said Agent 007 adventure film was more grounded with reality, revived certain espionage elements used in the Sean Connery Bond films of the early 1960s, focused more on the Cold War, delivered solidly with thrills, and was ultimately more character-driven with its storytelling.

The movie poster of Fot Your Eyes Only. (photo source – IMDB.com)

I should also state that For Your Eyes Only has a very solid cast with Carole Bouquet and Lynn-Holly Johnson as the Bond girls, the late Israeli actor Topol as Columbo, Julian Glover as Kristatos, and the late Cassandra Harris (first wife of James Bond star Pierce Brosnan) as Lisl.

In my experience, I never saw For Your Eyes Only in the cinemas. My first time viewing it was on a rented home video tape (Betamax). In the 1990s, by chance I replayed the movie on cable TV. I bought a DVD copy of the movie in 2009.

Very recently, I had my first-ever high-definition (HD) viewing of For Your Eyes Only on Blu-ray which is my latest purchase this year. I bought it for a little over $8 (delivery fee excluded) on Amazon.

My Blu-ray copy of For Your Eyes Only. I bought it for a little over $8.
The rear of my Blu-ray copy of For Your Eyes Only.

As of this writing, I replayed For Your Eyes Only in HD twice with my Blu-ray copy and I can say that I enjoyed the Moore-led Bond movie yet again. While the film is not exactly spectacular with regards to visuals as it was recorded, it looks better than ever in HD. Apart from the higher resolution, the movie is clearer and there are more tiny visual details spotted as I watched on Blu-ray. It was nice to see on HD the film’s key moments, character development scenes and, of course, the many action scenes and stunts performed.

With regards to the extra stuff, this Blu-ray contains the exact same content made available on For Your Eyes Only DVD that I bought 16 years ago. The on-screen options as well as the visual presentation were also the same.

I am really delighted with For Your Eyes Only on Blu-ray disc format and my recent purchase resulted in a tremendous value in return. I am glad to have this classic James Bond movie in my collection as the film itself is great and it is my favorite among the seven Agent 007 movies Roger Moore starred in.  

The Blu-ray disc of the 1981 James Bond movie.

If you are a long-time James Bond or if you are a newcomer who wants to the see the very best of Roger Moore James Bond movies in HD, the Blu-ray disc is still available for ordering online and you only need to click here.

For me, the next step to enjoy For Your Eyes Only would be on 4K Blu-ray (standalone release). In conclusion, I posted below the official song of the movie by Sheena Easton.

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Chinese national caught with high-tech eavesdropping equipment charged by NBI

Chinese national caught with high-tech eavesdropping equipment charged by NBI

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The Chinese national who was arrested near the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) building in Manila with high-tech equipment with him has been formally charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), according to a news story by the Philippine New Agency (PNA). GMA Network had its own reporter on location when the arrest happened.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed criminal charges against a Chinese national arrested for possession of electronic eavesdropping equipment near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) building in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday.

Tak Hail Lao, 47, was charged by the NBI before the Department of Justice (DOJ) with misuse of device and illegal interception and system interference under Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616 or the Espionage Act of 1941.

Speaking to reporters, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said while the charges are bailable, “it will be up to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to decide whether temporary liberty should be granted while the case is pending since the suspect is a foreign national.”

Records from the BI showed that Tak Hail Lao, who uses a passport issued by the Chinese special administrative region of Macau, arrived last April 2 and had no derogatory record.

He was caught in possession of an international mobile subscriber identity device, or IMSI catcher, which can be used to intercept mobile communications, including text messages.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be a lot more Chinese nationals using high-tech equipment in the Philippines doing secret acts of espionage? Do you consider Chinese spies a threat to national security?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Wanted Vietnamese national apprehended at NAIA Terminal 3

Wanted Vietnamese national apprehended at NAIA Terminal 3

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Recently a Vietnamese national who turned out to be a wanted person over kidnap and rape was arrested by immigration officers at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City have arrested a Vietnamese national wanted in the country for abducting and raping a Chinese woman in 2023.

In a news release Monday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Nguyen Hu Mai, 48, was intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 3 while attempting to flee aboard a Cebu Pacific flight to Saigon last March 21.

The foreigner was immediately referred to supervisors for secondary inspection after his name prompted a positive hit in the centralized derogatory database of the bureau.

“Our supervisors were able to establish that the passenger and person appearing in our watchlist are one and the same. He was thus stopped and arrested by our airport personnel,” he added.

Nguyen was immediately turned over to the BI’s border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) and later transferred to the bureau’s detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

According to BI-BCIU chief Ferdinand Tendenilla, Nguyen has been on the wanted list of the BI since March 10 when he and two Chinese nationals were charged with deportation for being undesirable aliens for being prime suspects in the kidnapping and rape case.

Police investigators alleged that on March 2, 2023, the three foreigners kidnapped a Chinese woman inside her condominium unit in Makati City.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be more personnel of the Bureau of Immigration who are engaged in illegal activities that the national authorities have yet to find? Do you think that the syndicates behind human trafficking are a threat to national security?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Bureau of Immigration (BI) relieves seven personnel for suspected illegal activities

Bureau of Immigration (BI) relieves seven personnel for suspected illegal activities

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Over suspicion of engaging in illegal activities, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently relieved seven of its personnel from their posts, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Seven personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) suspected to be involved in illegal activities have been relieved from their posts.

In a statement Wednesday, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the move aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to eliminate corruption and strengthen border security.

He said the relieved personnel, assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3, are under investigation following reports linking them to the illegal departure of trafficking victims repatriated on March 25.

If found to have assisted the victims, these employees would face charges before the Department of Justice.

Based on BI records, the victims arrived in Manila on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand after being rescued by the Philippine government from online scamming syndicates in Myanmar.

While tighter measures are in place, Viado acknowledged the growing challenge of intercepting trafficking victims at airports, as many now come from well-off backgrounds and pose as legitimate tourists.

The BI chief also reported that a total of 1,093 victims of human trafficking were intercepted in 2024. These victims were referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for investigation and filing of cases against their recruiters.

Apart from pretending to be regular tourists, he warned that trafficking syndicates continue to exploit backdoor routes in an attempt to bypass stricter immigration controls.

Earlier this month, the BI reported the repatriation of three trafficking victims from Cambodia after being forced to work in a scam hub.

Investigations revealed they had no official record of departure, having been reportedly smuggled out via small boats from Jolo, Sulu, to Sabah, Malaysia.

The victims admitted that their passports were later stamped with fake Philippine departure marks before they traveled to Cambodia through Malaysia and Thailand.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be more personnel of the Bureau of Immigration who are engaged in illegal activities that the national authorities have yet to find? Do you think that the syndicates behind human trafficking are a threat to national security?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Six foreigners and local bodyguard arrested in Subic for alleged spying operations

Six foreigners and local bodyguard arrested in Subic for alleged spying operations

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Recently, elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended six foreigners and their local bodyguard in Subic, Zambales, for allegedly conducting surveillance and reconnaissance activities, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. The foreign suspects were all from China and several pieces of evidence were collected by the law enforcers.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Authorities have arrested six foreign nationals and their Filipino bodyguard suspected of engaging in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in Grande Island in Subic, Zambales.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, NBI officials led by spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin presented to the media the six Chinese suspects as well as the equipment recovered from them.

They were identified as He Peng, alias Nan Ke; Xu Xining; Ye Tianwu, alias Qui Feng/Quing Fe; Ye XIaocan; Dick Ang; and Su Anlong.

The NBI said its Cybercrime Division received a letter on March 17 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Military Intelligence Unit regarding foreign nationals suspected of carrying out covert ISR operations on critical infrastructures within Central Luzon.

“Notably, Grande Island, located within Subic Bay approximately 56 kilometers north of Manila Bay, has attracted attention as foreign nationals have reportedly been conducting surveillance activities there. Intelligence report from the AFP revealed that six individuals on the island were closely monitored for engaging in deemed suspicious activities, involving a collection of sensitive data related to ‘Critical Infrastructure’ or data affecting national defense within the area,” the NBI said in a statement.

The NBI said the individuals were occupying the island under the guise of recreational fishers, frequently lingering at the wharves.

Witnesses reported that the group was using hi-tech drones in the guise of transporting fishing bait to conduct surveillance on naval assets, including those from local forces and allied nations, passing through Grande Island.

“Due to its contiguity and strategic location, the island allows the group to monitor naval assets entering and exiting Subic Bay during maritime patrols or joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea,” the NBI said.

On March 19, NBI agents led by Director Jaime Santiago, together with the AFP Intelligence Units and SBMA law enforcers, arrived at the target location to implement the warrant of arrest and carry out a hot pursuit operation which also yielded photographs and documents of Philippine and US naval assets.

Electronic gadgets containing surveillance photos and videos were also seized together with fake documents and identification cards.

Their Filipino bodyguard, Melvin Aguillon, was also arrested for possession of an unregistered firearm.

On March 21, the arrested suspects were presented for inquest proceeding before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Bataan for violations of Commonwealth Act No. 616 (Espionage Law); Articles 172 (Falsification by Private Individuals and Use of Falsified Documents) and 178 (Using Fictitious Name and Concealing True Name) of the Revised Penal Code; Republic Act (RA) No. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act); and the election gun ban.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that the foreign suspects were Chinese nationals?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Cybercrime complaints tripled in 2024, victims lost almost P200 million

Cybercrime complaints tripled in 2024, victims lost almost P200 million

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Was there anyone in your local community who got scammed many times last year? Based on the findings of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), cybercrime complaints more than tripled in 2024 and victims lost almost P200 million as well, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Friday said there were a total of 10,004 cybercrime complaints filed with their office in 2024, more than three times the 3,317 complaints in 2023.

In a statement Friday, CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Alexander Ramos said the total amount lost by cybercrime victims reached almost PHP198 million last year alone.

He attributed the exponential increase in the number of complaints to the growing awareness of the public on cybercrimes and their willingness to report.

“In previous years, people were not aware that they were being scammed and many were not also aware of where to file their complaints,” Ramos said.

Of the total, around 3,534 complaints, or 35 percent were consumer fraud, these include non-delivery of goods or services and fake advertisements.

On the other hand, there were 3,242 online fraud complaints, or 32 percent of the total. This includes financial fraud, impersonation, job scams, investment scams, and love scams.

Other types of complaints were unsolicited communication, illegal access, identity theft, sexual cybercrimes, phishing, and cyberlibel.

He added that GCash was the top wallet used by victims of consumer fraud, online fraud, and phishing, with a total loss of PHP76.49 million to its users.

Other financial platforms used by victims were BPI with PHP28.47 million losses, GoTyme with PHP15.38 million, and PayMaya with PHP13.99 million.

He called on victims of scams to call the government’s toll-free hotline at 1326.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you scammed in 2024? Do you think that banks and e-wallet companies should enhance security of their respective apps to protect their users from the cyber criminals and scammers? Do you personally know anyone who lost a lot of money because he or she got scammed while using GCash?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Bureau of Immigration (BI) tells public to report foreigners engaged in illegal espionage

Bureau of Immigration (BI) tells public to report foreigners engaged in illegal espionage

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In light of the recent apprehension of Chinese nationals who were suspected to be working as spies, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) urged the public to report foreign nationals engaged in illegal espionage here in the Philippines, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday, Feb. 2, urged the public to report foreigners engaged in illegal espionage and other suspicious activities.

“We are serious in our efforts to stop these undesirable aliens from abusing our hospitality,” declared BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado in a statement.

Viado aired his plea following the arrest of six suspected Chinese spies who were caught during a series of operations conducted recently by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The alleged spies were earlier identified by as Deng Yuangqing, Cai Shaohuang, Cheng Hai Tao, Wu Cheng Ting, Wang Yong Yi, and Wu Chin Ren.

They have been charged with the non-bailable offense of violations of Commonwealth Act No. 616, the Espionage Act, in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Viado disclosed the BI has been investigating the arrested suspected spies and found that they have been embedded in the Philippines for years.

“Some have been here as early as 2002,” he said.  

“They have been holding legal statuses, and have lived in the country for a long time before they were found to be doing suspicious activities by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” he also said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be a lot of spies from Communist China living here in the Philippines doing secretive espionage work? Do you think the government should announce financial rewards for information that would lead to arrest of foreigners who committed illegal espionage in the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Team 7 #2 (1994)

A Look Back at Team 7 #2 (1994)

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1994 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the original WildStorm universe through one of the comic books of the first mini-series of Team 7.

For the newcomers reading this, Team 7 is set in the past within the original WildStorm universe. This is the one special forces team that had major WildStorm heroes – Grifter (WildCATS: Covert Action Teams), Backlash, Jackson Dane (Wetworks), John Lynch (Gen13) and Deathblow – who were younger, were proficient with combat and were destined to gain special abilities that later defined them. Issue #1 reviewed last time worked well by efficiently introducing the characters while also building up the plot and there were some nice pay-offs here and there.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Team 7 #2, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Aron Wiesenfeld. This is the 2nd chapter of the 4-issue mini-series.

The cover.

Early story

Set in the 1970s, a team of armed escorts and some personnel wearing protective gear isolate and examine a battlefield full of dead bodies. Miles Craven and Gabriel Newman analyze the evidence around them. Craven states that what they have is too important an operation to be left to underlings and he wants Gabriel to stay with the project which could use his special talents. Shortly after, the bodies of the Team 7 members were retrieved barely alive.

Seven days later, John Lynch wakes up in a hospital bed feeling traumatized over what happened to his team during the last mission. He was told that they were exposed to a chemical agent and he had been in a deep coma for a week.

Craven then enters the room to provide Lynch crucial updates…

Quality

Do you recognize Deathblow and Dane on this page?

As expected, the gritty and dark storytelling from the previous issue continued in this story. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that this issue has some handsome pay-offs to what was built-up in issue #1 and there were new build-ups established along the way. Because the script was crafted to build-up the plot and sub-plot, the military action scenes are lessened which is not surprising. I can assure you that Chuck Dixon’s writing here remains pretty strong.

While the previous issue served as an efficient introduction of the younger versions of WildStorm’s heroes who are in the middle of a world full of violence and espionage, this issue shed some light as to how the heroes dealt with their new abilities (in connection with the climax of issue #1) and how International Operations is handling matters behind closed doors. The suspense kept on building up and this made the narrative more intriguing to follow. Expect to see elements of high-level espionage, unethical science and war throughout.

When it comes to the characters, Lynch (being the captain of Team 7) has a huge share of the spotlight followed by Cole Cash (Grifter). The two have different views about their special forces duty – Lynch follows the superiors while Cole realizes something is wrong about their leadership and the intelligence fed to them.

Conclusion

This scene showing Cole Cash (Grifter) emerging from dark with a defiant tone is a very defining moment of this comic book.

Team 7 #2 (1994) is clearly a very engaging read. It has the fine mix of war (with uncompromising violence drawn by Wiesenfeld), intrigue and the dark side of global espionage. The science fiction element here worked well in explaining the powers Team 7 members got after what happened in issue #1. This comic book also marks the beginning of showing Lynch and Cole Cash as the co-leads among the teammates. Die-hard fans of Deathblow, Dane and Backlash will have to wait a bit before their favorites get their share of the spotlight. Regardless, this is a very powerful read and a fine example of doing a prequel within the original WildStorm universe.

Overall, Team 7 #2 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

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