By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Operatives from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested last week 39 foreign nationals during a coordinated operation in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City.
In a statement on Monday, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the operation on May 29 targeted a major telecommunications company where the foreign nationals —reportedly all Chinese— were found to be working in violation of Philippine immigration rules.
According to the BI, the individuals failed to present valid travel documents during the raid, rendering them undocumented aliens under Philippine law.
Further verification also revealed that while the foreign nationals held working visas, these were issued under petitions from a different company, constituting a breach of the conditions of their stay.
The raid was conducted following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, in coordination with other government agencies, and was part of a broader effort to crack down on illegal foreign workers in the country.
“Foreign nationals who wish to work in the Philippines must comply with all our laws and procedures. Those who enter under false pretenses or switch employers without proper authorization will face the full force of the law,” Viado said.
“This operation sends a strong message: the BI will not tolerate violations that threaten our national security and undermine our immigration system.”
The arrested individuals underwent the usual booking proceedings and have been transferred to the BI detention facility in Bicutan pending the conduct of deportation proceedings.
Meanwhile, a Korean national wanted in South Korea for large-scale fraud amounting to over PHP400 million was arrested Friday morning by agents of the BI in Pasay City.
The fugitive, identified as Nam Sungjin, 53, was taken into custody by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) at around 8 a.m. following close coordination with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office of the Republic of Korea and the Philippine Air Force.
The foreigner is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Changwon District Court, Miryang Branch in South Korea in 2024 for violating Article 347-(1) of the Korean Criminal Act, which covers fraud.
An official report from Korean authorities stated that Nam allegedly posed as a legitimate businessman operating enterprises in both Korea and the Philippines.
Nam will be committed to the bureau’s warden facility in Taguig City following standard booking and documentation procedures. Deportation proceedings will follow. (PNA)
