BI bars 17 Chinese nationals from entering PH

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has barred 17 Chinese from entering the country after they failed to establish the purpose of their travel. Fortunato Manahan Jr., the immigration intelligence division chief, said all 17 were placed on the next available flight back to their port of origin. First to be intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 on Wednesday were 16 Chinese who arrived via a Pan Pacific Airlines flight from Zhengzhou, China. They claimed to be sponsored by a local tech company. But Manahan said the group gave inconsistent statements and failed to establish their purpose of travel. On the same day, a Chinese man arrived at Naia Terminal 2 via a Philippine Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand. The man claimed to be affiliated with a local solar energy company, but failed to prove his purpose. —Tina G. Santos