Immigration cops pounce on human smuggling ring operating in PH

MANILA, Philippines—An Indian couple suspected of being part of a syndicate that brings in illegal Indian nationals into the country, are now facing deportation proceedings.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. identified the couple as Lakhvir Singh and Shinder Pal Kaur. They were arrested last June 7 at their house in Barangay Dalig, Antipolo City by operatives of the Bureau of Immigration intelligence division.

David said he ordered the couple’s arrest after learning that one of them recently entered the country with a falsified entry visa.

BI Intelligence Chief Maria Antonette Mangrobang said Lakhvir Singh is suspected of being an accomplice of an Indian human smuggler who wanted for murder in the Philippines, and has gone into hiding.

Mangrobang cited intelligence reports alleging that the human smuggling syndicate had been operating in the Philippines since 2000. Hundreds of Indians with fraudulent travel papers were smuggled into the country since that period, Mangrobang said.

Lakhvir Singh reportedly holds a valid visa because of his marriage to a Filipino, but it turned out that he was married to one Shinder Pal Kaur, whom he fetched at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last April 21.

“His visa will be cancelled because it was obtained through fraud and misrepresentation,” Mangrobang said.