BI nabs 97 Chinese, 8 other foreigners in Biñan call center raid; 1 minor rescued

by Katrina Hallare, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jun 29, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested 97 Chinese nationals and eight other foreigners who were found to be working without proper documents in a call center or a Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) office in Biñan, Laguna.

Among those found working without proper documents was a 17-year-old girl, the BI said.

“There was even one minor—a 17-year-old female—who was obviously trafficked to work here illegally, which brings the number to a total of 106,” BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a statement released Saturday.

Sandoval said aside from the Chinese nationals, also arrested during the raid on Thursday were four Indonesians, three Malaysians, one Vietnamese and a Laotian.

Sandoval added that information about the illegal aliens came from several complaints from the community, and that most of those arrested were undocumented or were only able to present tourist visas.

“They were arrested for violating the conditions of their stay,” Sandoval said in a statement released on Saturday.

“Foreigners are not allowed to work here without the proper visas or permits.”

The BI spokesperson said that the 105 undocumented foreigners will be detained in the bureau’s holding facility in Bicutan, Taguig, while their deportation are being arranged.

Meanwhile, Sandoval said the BI has recommended that the undocumented 17-year-old girl be released to her guardians. However, she may still be ordered to leave the country if found to have engaged in illegal work, the BI said.

“Cases like this show that some foreign nationals think that they could just get away with illegal activities in the country easily,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said, expressing his dismay.

“This should serve as a warning to aliens with depraved motives,” he added. “We are serious in our drive against illegal aliens. Foreigners who are undocumented should go out now and legalize their stay, lest face sanctions.”

Morente urged the public to report to the BI the presence of any illegal aliens in their community.

“Many of our arrests came from complaints, reports, and tips from concerned citizens,” Morente said.

“This is a big help for us in pinpointing the location of illegal aliens who may be hiding in the most remote places of the country. Report them to us so our Intelligence men may swiftly act on it and we may deport them immediately,” said Morente. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)