BI to deport 9 foreigners for selling retail goods illegally

Nine foreign nationals in Pasay and Manila are facing deportation after they were arrested for selling retail goods illegally, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the nine foreign nationals are facing deportation proceedings after they were charged for violating the country’s immigration laws for selling retail goods.

“We will deport them for blatantly violating our immigration laws. Foreigners are prohibited in engaging in any gainful activity without the proper visas,” Morente said in a statement.

The BI reported that four of the foreign nationals were arrested on Oct. 26 inside Manila Plaza Mall in Quiapo, Manila while the remaining five were arrested at the Two Shopping Center in Pasay on the same day.

The foreign nationals arrested in Manila were identified as Cai Shaoqiu, Cai Shengfeng, Tian Changsheng, and She Lijuan, while those apprehended in Pasay were Lin Manyi, Zeng Xinfu, Xiao Jinxiang, Zhang Yang Sheng, and Chichi Zhuang.

Morente said that most of the foreign vendors were undocumented and failed to present their immigration documents.

“In fact, during the check, one of them presented a counterfeit immigration document, while another may have assumed someone else’s identity as he had no record of arrival,” Morente said.

Morente then warned foreign nationals that they will not be allowed to illegally engage in gainful activities which deprive small Filipino vendors of livelihood opportunities. /je