At least six foreigners engaged in illegal mining operations in Bulacan were arrested by Immigration authorities for lack of work permit.
BI Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said the aliens were arrested after they were caught in flagrante working in their offices at the Xiaobo Scrap Trading Co. in Luasan St., Bgy. Loma de Gato, Marilao, Bulacan.
Arrested were five Chinese nationals identified as Junbo Deng, Yunli Zhou, Jun Li, Wei Lin, and Weike Qu and a Taiwanese named as Cheng Yi Huang.
Manahan said that except for Cheng, who was found to have a valid resident visa, the five Chinese men were found to be overstaying and undocumented as they failed to present their passports or other travel documents.
Marilao residents reported the employment of the illegal Chinese nationals, following concerns about their illegal mining activities in the area.
Manahan also received complaints on the alleged involvement of the aliens in an illegal export business.
Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said there would be no letup in BI’s drive against illegal foreign workers, who according to him, “deprives Filipinos of jobs and livelihood opportunities.”
“We welcome the influx of foreign nationals who work here as long as they comply with regulatory requirements and abide by our laws,” said Morente.“However, those who blatantly and continuously disregard our laws by working here without the proper documentation will be deported and banned from reentering the country,” he said.
He clarified that foreigners intending to work in the Philippines must secure a work permit from the Department of Labor and Employment and a working visa from the BI.
In 2017, a total of 15,970 foreign nationals were reported to have been working in the Philippines.