THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the arrest of nine Chinese involved in illegal mining activities in Aroroy, Masbate.
BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr. reported that the operation was conducted on September 22 by the BI’s Regional Intelligence Operations Unit 5 (RIOU5), in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy, the Philippine National Police, the Masbate Provincial Police Office and government intelligence forces.
The group was apprehended in two separate mine sites located in Barangay Cabangcalan and Barangay Pangle. Authorities found the foreigners actively engaged in mining activities without the appropriate visas or permits. Some were also discovered to be overstaying or working in violation of their immigration status.
Said miners were brought to Manila for booking and are now detained at the BI facility in Taguig, where they will undergo deportation proceedings, following their arrest.
