BI to deport 19 Russian women for lack of work visas

FILE: BI Commissioner Jaime Morente (Photo by Bureau of Immigration)

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport 19 Russian women who were arrested on Wednesday at a Pampanga nightclub for working without the required employment visas.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the foreigners were caught in flagrante or in the act of working as guest relations officers (GROs) inside the Club Angel in Clark Field, Angeles City.

“They will all be deported for working without visas and for other immigration offenses,” he said in a statement.

The BI chief added that the arrested foreigners were “undesirable aliens engaged in prostitution” that catered to customers who were charged an hourly rate of PHP1,500 for the women’s services.

At the same time, he said two Koreans believed to be the women’s recruiters and employers, were also arrested during the operation conducted last January 17 by BI intelligence operatives led by intelligence officer Jude Hinolan.

The Koreans, identified as Jeong Seonghun, 30, and Lee Kyurak, 30, were working as the club’s cashier and manager, respectively, and that the duo facilitated the women’s entry into the country.

Meanwhile, Hinolan reported that the Koreans were both overstaying aliens who arrived several months ago and did not bother to extend their stay as tourists.

He added that the Russian women arrived as tourists and that nine of them were overstaying in the country.

“We have recommended that charges for violating the anti-trafficking persons in act be filed against the two Koreans as they were the ones who supposedly facilitated the entry of these women into the country,” Hinolan said.

The Philippine immigration act strictly forbids foreigners from engaging in gainful activity without applying for work permits and visas.

All the foreign nationals are now confined at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending deportation proceedings that will be initiated against them.