No Chinese illegal in Clark raid

CAMP OLIVAS, PAMPANGA—Immigration officials have rounded up 912 Chinese working at the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark Freeport but have confirmed that they are in the country legally.

The Chinese were rounded up from Fontana’s Residences Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 as well as from villas on Florida and Edinberg Streets inside the freeport on Nov. 25, according to a police report.

They were transported by bus to the Fontana Food Center for verification and investigation by immigration officials. All Chinese employees showed documents proving their legal stay in the country, said Supt. Juritz Rara, Mabalacat City police chief.

The operation of the Bureau of Immigration’s fugitive search unit was covered by a mission order signed by Commissioner Jaime Morante. As many as 195 police personnel from the Second Special Action Battalion and Central Luzon police assisted the bureau.

“All of the 912 foreign nationals … presented documents or passports for verification … to prove the legality of their stay here in the country. Their individual biometrics were also being taken as part of the procedure,” Rara said. —TONETTE OREJAS/rga