11 Chinese nationals nabbed in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY — At least 11 Chinese nationals were arrested on Monday by authorities led by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) here for working without a visa.

The Chinese nationals did not resist arrest, said Robbin Docena, alien control officer of the BID-8.

“They were working in various establishments here and yet they do not have working visa. This is a violation of our immigration law,” Docena said.

The Chinese nationals were immediately transported to the BI central office in Manila for the filing of charges against them.

Docena said their office was informed by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) regarding the operations of the Chinese nationals.

When the report was validated, they hatched an operation to arrest the suspects.

Based on the information relayed to them by one of the arrested Chinese nationals, Docena said they have been working in Tacloban City “for months.”

“They could not speak English with one of them talking in broken Filipino,” he said.

Docena clarified that their operation did not only focus on Chinese nationals but all foreigners who do not have legal documents.

This year, he said they have arrested 30 foreigners, to include the 11 Chinese nationals, from different parts of Eastern Visayas for alleged domestic violence and for commission of crimes. /lzb