Three Hong Kong nationals are set to be deported from the country after they were arrested by state security forces in Basilan for illegally entering the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Monday.
In a report to BI commissioner Jaime Morente, the BI Anti-Terrorist Group (ATG) identified the nabbed foreigners as Tsui Tsz Kin, Ho Chun Wai, and Wong Po.
BI ATG chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., in a press statement on Monday, confirmed that they were all from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
“The three aliens were intercepted armed forces personnel in the vicinity of Pilas Island, Hj Mutamad, Basilan two weeks ago while they were aboard a speedboat that ran out of fuel at sea,” Manahan said.
“We are investigating their possible involvement in drug trafficking, human, trafficking and smuggling,” the BI official said, adding that the aliens have so far remained “uncooperative” during interrogation.
According to Manahan, the foreigners claimed that they were merely conducting “testing procedures” on their speedboat before they drifted into Philippine waters due to bad weather.
“Reportedly seized from the aliens were several high-tech cellular phones, satellite phones, GPS devices, and credit cards,” Manahan said.
The BI ATG chief said the Hong Kong nationals were held at the BI Detention Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending their deportation proceedings.
Charges for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 were being prepared against the three Hong Kong nationals, he said. /vvp