Foreigners warned vs fake immigration operations

The Bureau of Immigration on Monday warned foreign nationals about a fake operations order to check on illegally working aliens in entertainment establishments in Manila. “No such order has been issued by the [bureau],” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in an advisory. The fake order claimed that immigration personnel were directed to inspect entertainment places in Manila, including bars, KTVs, golf clubs, bowling alleys, internet cafes, amusement parks, casinos, hotels, guest houses and restaurants to search for foreign nationals illegally working in the country. “Our operatives are not authorized to randomly inspect establishments, but instead are required to secure a mission order to conduct an arrest,” Tansingco said. He believes that the bogus order was being used by syndicates to scare foreign nationals in the country and scam them.

—Tina G. Santos