Police nab four undocumented Chinese in Isabela

CAUAYAN CITY – Four undocumented Chinese nationals, who allegedly embarked on an unlicensed ink-refilling and cigarette-making operation, were arrested at a warehouse of the Cauayan Rice Mill in Barangay Minante Dos here on Friday night, according to a belated police report.

Wu Liang Zhuang, Yue Rong Shui, Wang Zai Zhou, and Ye Yong Shui could not present their alien employment permits and registration papers when the police confronted them at their leased warehouse where they have been residing for the last month, said Police Lt. Col. Gerald Gamboa, chief of the Cauayan police. The warehouse operations have been shuttered, he said.

Warehouse owner Jong Uy said the Chinese men paid two months in advance and asked to install equipment for manufacturing plastics and ink. Uy rented out the place for P50,000 a month.

Authorities discovered cartons filled with filters, and were told these were materials used to make cigarettes and ink for pentel pens.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency accompanied the police, but found no trace of narcotics in the warehouse.

Jun Carreon, who was hired by the Chinese men along with 13 other workers from Tandag City in Surigao del Sur, said they were recruited for a plastics-manufacturing plant and were each promised a P10,000 monthly salary, as well as free food and lodging, uniforms, and medicine.

He said the Tandag workers arrived two weeks ago and were not allowed to leave the premises. Carreon said the gates were often padlocked.

Larry Tumaliuan, alien control officer of the Bureau of Immigration, told the police that the undocumented Chinese could be deported. /je