Immigration agents hunt wanted aliens

Bureau of Immigration. INQUIRER PHOTO/ ALEXIS CORPUZ

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) operatives have been dispatched to various provinces to arrest some 600 fugitive foreigners using the Philippines as a place to hide.

BI intelligence chief Rommel de Leon said personnel manning border checkpoints, such as airports and seaports, had been alerted.  The aliens face various criminal charges in their countries such as  fraud, swindling and public charge.

He said immigration officers were coordinating with other agencies and local governments.

“We are serving notice to those wanted foreigners the arm of the law is fast catching up to them. We are firm in our campaign  to stop foreigners from using the country as their haven and sanctuary,” De Leon said in a statement Sunday.

He said Immigration Commissioner Ronaldo Geron issued to directive to serve the warrants to the immigration operatives.

De Leon said foreigners on the watch list would be  immediately sent back to their countries of origin. Foreigners who had committed crimes in the country, however,  would have to serve their sentences before they are deported.