7 Chinese nationals illegally working in Batangas quarry arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Seven Chinese nationals found to be working illegally in a quarry in Batangas were arrested, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Thursday.

The apprehension was conducted on Wednesday through an operation by BI’s regional intelligence operations unit IV-A, together with government intelligence forces, and coordinated with the Taysan Municipal Police Station.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the arrest stemmed from intelligence information that some Chinese were working illegally in mining operations in the province.

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The initial target of the operation was a certain Wang Zhenglai, 34, who possessed a working visa but was found to have been petitioned by a fake company.

However, BI officers were able to apprehend six more individuals.

Five of them were found to be possessing a 9(g) working visa but were petitioned by companies located in Quezon City.

The other one, on the other hand, was found to be working with merely a tourist visa.

One of the arrested is Wang Shou Min, 67, who is said to be the mining company’s “big boss” and father of Wang Zhenglai.

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“Foreign nationals who possess a working visa but found to be petitioned by fake companies or caught to be working in other locations may face deportation cases,” Tansingco said.

He also warned that using fake companies as petitioners is becoming a trend for foreign nationals who illegally work in the country.