PRESS RELEASE
2019 September 13
Immigration Agents Nab 277 Illegal Foreign Workers in Pasig
MANILA, Philippines—Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Friday the arrest of 277 foreign
workers in a massive raid of a corporate centre at Ortigas Center in Pasig City.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente disclosed that the aliens were arrested last Sept. 11
in an operation conducted by the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), in coordination with the
Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Philippine National Police (PNP)'s Integrity
Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
According to Morente, he initially issued a mission order to arrest four Chinese fugitives who
are wanted by authorities for their involvement in economic crimes in China.
"We received an official communication from Police Attaché Chen Chao of the Chinese Embassy
in the Philippines indicating that these Chinese fugitives engaged in an investment scam that
victimized more than a thousand individuals, and has an estimated cost of damages amounting
to more than 100 million RMB," he added.
FSU Head Bobby Raquepo further disclosed, however, that the operation then yielded the
incidental arrest of 273 other Chinese nationals who were caught in the act of conducting illegal
online operations. Said aliens were found to be undocumented. After verification with Chinese
authorities, it was discovered that they are also fugitives from justice, and wanted for large
scale fraud and investment scam in their country.
"Upon verification with the Chinese government, we found out that the passports of these
fugitives have already been canceled, making them undocumented aliens," Raquepo said.
Morente then assured the public that the BI is serious in its drive against foreign criminals who
try to evade punishment and prosecution. "Their presence in the country is a risk to public
security," he said. "These fugitives will be hunted, deported, and will be blacklisted, effectively
banning them from re-entering the country," he further stated.
The case has been forwarded to the BI’s Legal Division for filing of appropriate charges, while
the aliens are temporarily detained at the BI’s Warden Facility in Taguig pending deportation
proceedings.# |
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