A TOTAL of 37 Chinese nationals found to be illegally working in a construction site in Cotabato City were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
According to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, the Chinese nationals were found last November 13 to be working in the construction of a mall in BARMM. All 37 foreign nationals face deportation charges and will remain in the BI’s custody pending deportation.
The aliens were arrested on the strength of a mission order issued by Viado after receiving information from government intelligence sources that the construction of the building was being done by the said illegal workers.
Said operations were conducted in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Army.
Viado said majority of those arrested were able to present a 9(g) working visa, but were petitioned by a different company, in violation of the conditions of their stay. A handful were unable to present their documentation, while the rest were merely holding tourist visas.
The BI chief warned foreign nationals not to attempt working in the country without the appropriate visas or permits, adding that government intelligence agencies are now closely coordinating and sharing information to be able to weed out illegal aliens from the country.
