37 Chinese nabbed for illegal retail ops in Parañaque

FILE: Bureau of Immigration building in Manila. (Photo by Elmer B. Domingo – Own work/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – Immigration authorities arrested 37 Chinese nationals allegedly involved in illegal retail operations in Parañaque City on Tuesday.

In a statement Wednesday, BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said the foreigners were nabbed in an operation inside the Multinational Village in Barangay Moonwalk.

These include 30 males and seven females who were found to be illegally operating businesses in the area such as grocery stores and restaurants.

The foreign nationals do not have a 9(g) working visa, a requirement for foreigners working in the country.

Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the arrest stemmed from intelligence reports received by his office about foreign nationals working illegally inside the subdivision.

“This operation is part of our ongoing efforts to uphold the integrity of our immigration laws and protect local businesses from unfair competition,” the BI chief added.

All 37 aliens are detained at the BI’s facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City pending resolution of the deportation cases to be filed against them.