BI to deport, blacklist 2 foreigners for overstaying

Two foreigners will be deported after they were arrested in different operations for overstaying in the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Thursday.

In a statement, BI Acting Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said that Indian national Vel Murugan Ayyadurai, 49 years old, was apprehended by BI agents in Manila last November 12.

Meanwhile, American Peter Robert Saunders, who is 83 years old, was arrested last November 15 in Bauang, La Union.

According to Manahan, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued a mission order against the two illegal aliens after informants tipped the BI about the foreigners’ “unlawful presence in the country.”

He said that Ayyadurai is facing deportation for working without a permit while Saunders has been overstaying in the country for almost one year.

Investigations revealed that the Indian national owned and managed a cafe located along San Macelino Street, Ermita, Manila.

Ayyadurai allegedly ran his restaurant without a work permit from the Department of Labor (Dole) and a working visa from the BI.

On the other hand, Saunders refused to obey the BI’s leave order last January after its Board of Commissioners canceled Saunders’ permanent visa at the request of his estranged Filipina wife.

Following the deportation cases of the two foreigners, Commissioner Morente reiterated his warning to foreigners not to “blatantly violate” the country’s immigration laws in order to avoid arrest and deportation.

“For making a mockery of our laws, these two aliens will be included in our blacklist and banned from re-entering the Philippines,” Morente said.

He also urged the public to report any illegal aliens who are in their neighborhoods and workplaces to the BI. /je