MANILA, Philippines – A total of 46 foreigners – among them Chinese, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani nationals – were apprehended Wednesday noon, September 9, by Philippine authorities.
The 46 are suspected to be illegally working in the Philippines. They were caught in the act as vendors without immigration papers.
Operatives from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Philippine National Police Regional Public Safety Battalion arrested the 46 foreign nationals at the Baclaran Bagong Milenyo Plaza Mall, Parañaque.
“The foreign nationals were caught in the premises in the act of working as vendors in retail stores,” said BI spokesperson Elaine Tan.
“Pending deportation, the subjects shall be quarantined in our Warden’s Facility in Bicutan, unless they are provisionally released on bail on meritorious grounds,” she added.
The 46 foreigners were brought to the BI main office in Manila for verification and inquest proceedings since they were arrested without a court warrant.
Information regarding the 46 foreigners' lack of valid immigration documents was based on weeks of surveillance by BI operatives, said Tan. – Rappler.com