MANILA, April 29 -- Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Tuesday said the arrest of a Chinese national allegedly carrying surveillance equipment near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila confirms earlier warnings that foreign interference threatens the upcoming elections.

The suspect was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday. Spy equipment were found in the suspect's vehicle, parked outside the Comelec's main office in Intramuros.

In a statement, Tolentino pointed to the discovery of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher inside the suspect's vehicle as a direct evidence of ongoing covert operations.

He noted that the development validates the findings of last week's Se...