July 01, 2024 - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended nine Chinese nationals on June 29, 2024, for violating the conditions of their stay in the Philippines.
The individuals were caught illegally disembarking from three motorboats at the Parañaque Fishport shoreline in Brgy. Dongalo, Parañaque City, around 4:30 PM.
According to a statement by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, intelligence agents and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted the arrest pursuant to a mission order. BI's intelligence division (ID) Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. revealed months of surveillance led to the operation after reports of suspicious activity involving Chinese nationals in Manila Bay.
The apprehended individuals, aged 33 to 54, were identified as Li Weilin, Liu Peng, Wang Yong, Huang Haibing, Gong Yuan Ju, Zhang Tao, Dai Guang Yuan, Li Jiang Yu, and Kang Tian De.
Four of them possessed passports and held 9G work visas sponsored by an engineering company in Pasay City. However, the remaining five were undocumented.
"We suspect these individuals might be involved in illegal work within vessels along Manila Bay," Tansingco said. "Their visas restrict them to work solely for the company in Pasay City. Foreigners with valid work visas found working elsewhere violate their stay conditions."
Following the arrest, the individuals were transported to the BI facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.
"This operation serves as a warning to foreign nationals who misuse their stay in our country," Tansingco emphasized. "We remain committed to securing our borders and maintaining order."