MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE) A man claiming to be a member of the Philippine Marines was caught taking pictures of the home of National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera in Quezon City early Thursday morning.

The suspect, identified from his ID of the Armed Forces as Corporal Hannival Guerrero, was released by authorities a few hours later at around 10 a.m., a check with the village security revealed.

The Mapayapa Village Security said that police released Guerrero after Lumbera filed a complaint against the soldier.

Lumbera told INQUIRER.net that his house helpers were alarmed when they saw the man outside their home inside Mapayapa Village at around 6 a.m.

The village's security was immediately alerted and the man was placed under their custody, Lumbera said in a phone interview.

"He told security that he was interested in the vacant lot beside our home," Lumbera said.

The man had two companions who fled after village security was alerted, he added.

Lumbera expressed alarm over the incident, citing the controversy surrounding the Malacanang's choice of National Artists as their "initial suspicion" over the incident.

"We are alarmed that the military is taking interest in our home. For what reason?" he added.

Meanwhile, militant group Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) called for the immediate investigation by police on the incident.

"The PNP should move quickly to investigate the reported surveillance that was conducted at the house of National Artist Bievenido Lumbera. We are outraged over this incident," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. in a text message.

Reyes also called on Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to explain the presence of the alleged military intelligence personnel.

"Was the AFP planning to harm Bien in any way?" Reyes added.

Lumbera is a leader of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines and a National Council member of Bayan.