2 overstaying aliens nabbed in Zamboanga City, Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur––Two foreigners were arrested Wednesday in this city and Basilan province for overstaying.

Lieutenant Chester Ross Cabaltera, spokesperson of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, identified the two foreigners as Zain Jul Abideen, 25, a Pakistani, and Rafshad Cherikkal Puthiyapurayil, 32, an Indian national.

Abideen, also known by the aliases Khaler, Khan, and Jhen, has been living in the country without the necessary documents for the past six years and three years for Puthiyapurayil.

Navy and Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel arrested Abideen at Sitio Sunset, Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City, Basilan.

He was regularly monitored selling plastic wares and cigarettes and offering money lending services to residents in the province.

Navy, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, police, and BI personnel also arrested on the same day Puthiyapurayil at Yubengco Mall at Barangay Putik, this city.

Abideen was brought to Zamboanga City to undergo a medical check-up, additional inquiry, documentation, and disposition by BI Region 9, together with Puthiyapurayil.

Both were charged with violations of Section 37 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 for working without permits and declared as undocumented aliens in the Philippines.

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