THE 41 foreign nationals previously arrested in Bataan appeared before the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for their reportorial obligation.
It was learned from BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado that the said foreign nationals appeared before the BI’s intelligence division under Jun Manahan last November 25, after their physical custody has been temporarily transferred to Bataan Representative Albert Garcia and their legal counsel under recognizance.
In immigration parlance, bail via recognizance meant that subjects are not released, but their physical custody are transferred to the individual providing legal guarantee during the course of the deportation case.
As a condition of the transfer of custody, all 41 are required to present themselves to the BI’s head office in Intramuros bi-monthly.
The 41 aliens were made up of different nationalities, 22 of them being Malaysians, 2 were Chinese, 1 was Pakistani, 2 were Vietnamese, 6 were Bangladeshi, 1 was Indonesian, 6 were Brazilian, and 1 was Thai. These aliens will not be able to flee the country to avoid facing their charges as their passports are with the BI and their names have been included in the BI’s hold departure list.
Viado earlier clarified that the cases against the said foreign nationals remain active, with the BI committed to pursuing due process in compliance with the directive from Malacañang. He stated that the arrested aliens face deportation cases on grounds of undesirability.
The 41 foreign nationals are part of those arrested by the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in Central One Bataan last October 31.
Out of the group, one foreign national identified as Handoyo Salman, 40, was already deported last November 21 after being found to be a fugitive from justice.
Viado said the cases of the 41 foreign nationals remain ongoing, and should they be found liable, they will also face deportation in accordance with Philippine immigration laws.
