Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested 16 undocumented Indian nationals for working in the Philippines without the required government permits.
Meanwhile, the BI reminded foreign nationals in the country that the deadline for their annual reporting is on Friday, Mar. 1.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the Indians were rounded up in a series of raids conducted by operatives from the BI intelligence division based in Western Visayas.
Tansingco said he issued the mission orders authorizing the agents to conduct the operations following reports about the alleged increasing presence of illegal Indian nationals in Iloilo where many residents were allegedly being victimized by the aliens’ usurious 5-6 lending racket.
The BI chief said the operations signalled the start of an intensified drive against illegal aliens outside Metro Manila.
“We are intensifying our crackdown against illegal aliens throughout the country, including those who live in the far-flung areas and engaging in illegal lending activities that prey on our poor countrymen,” Tansingco said.
BI-Region 6 intelligence chief Jude Hinolan, who led the arresting teams, said 10 of the Indians were apprehended in the towns of Arevalo and Savana in Iloilo, while the six others were arrested in San Jose, Antique.
“Our investigation found out that all of them were engaged in lending activities without the proper work permits, while some of them are suspected of being illegal entrants for failure to present travel documents,” Hinolan said in his report to BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr.
After the arrest, the 16 illegal aliens were committed to the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.
The annual reporting is in compliance with the Alien Registration Act of 1950, which requires all foreign nationals with Immigrant and non-Immigrant visas to report to the bureau within the first 60 days of every year.
The BI reminded foreigners holding immigrant and non-immigrant visas who were issued an alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card) to present themselves to the bureau for the first 60 days of the year for the annual report, in compliance with the Alien Registration Act of 1950.
Tansingco said that apart from transferring annual reporting operations to more accessible locations, they have put up an online portal for virtual reporting to facilitate compliance among foreign nationals.
The BI has outlined specific requirements, including a completely filled-out online registration accessible via the BI’s e-services website. Reporting foreign nationals must also present their original valid ACR I-Card with valid visas, along with a valid passport.
Exempted from physically reporting to the BI are foreign nationals who are below 14 years old, those 60 years old and above, those mentally or physically incapacitated, pregnant women, and foreigners with medical conditions.
The physical Annual Report for the BI’s head office is being conducted at the 3rd Level Center Atrium, Robinsons Manila, and at the Government Service Express (GSE) Unit of SM Mall of Asia, from Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays, between 9 am to 6 pm.