CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Seventeen Chinese nationals were arrested for lack of proper immigration documents in Barangay Poblacion, Valencia City, Bukidnon on July 25, police said Saturday.
According to Valencia police chief Colonel Surki Sereñas, the foreigners were rounded up in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration.
Sereñas said the illegal aliens were engaged in retail business, operating stores that sold China-made dry goods, electronic gadgets and other products without work permits at the commercial area of Valencia City.
Sereñas said the Chinese nationals operated using business permits with Filipinos as dummies. Many of them have been running stores in the city since 2000, according to Sereñas.
“[The] Chinese nationals were apprehended due to incomplete immigration documents and were subsequently turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for appropriate action,” said Sereñas.
Sereñas said the arrested Chinese nationals entered the country as tourists.
Those arrested were identified by the police as Jin Kuang Cai, Zheng Chu Bao, Sy Hill, Ta Bryan, Ta Jems, Co Sevee, Zia Anna, Chan Junior, Hui Jacky, Hui Hehry, San Joseph, Lee Alvin, Chua Ekin, Tan Shao Hua, Lin Kim, Homy Andre, and Wee Are.
The arrest was in connection with the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Criminality Campaign/Oplan Galugad, Sereñas said./muf