BI nabs 20 illegal Chinese traders at Divisoria mall

Immigration agents arrested 20 Chinese nationals for selling retail goods to the public at a shopping mall in Divisoria, Manila.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents rounded up the foreigners during a Friday raid at the 11/88 Mall along Reina Regente Street in Binondo following reports about undocumented Chinese doing business inside the establishment, the bureau announced Sunday in a statement.

The arrested Chinese were later brought to the BI Detention Facility in Bicutan, Taguig City where they are still detained, BI said.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the Chinese nationals will undergo summary deportation proceedings for working without permits and violating the conditions of their stay in the country.

He revealed that most of those arrested are mere tourists, thus they were not supposed to engage in gainful activity in the country.

BI Acting Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr. said that the operation stemmed from complaints about the presence of foreigners inside the said mall who openly sell retail goods to the public.

“We will recommend to our legal division the filing of deportation charges against them for violating our immigration laws,” Manahan said.

Initial investigation have shown that some of those arrested are already overstaying in the country while others appear to be undocumented for failing to produce their passport and visa, BI noted.

The said foreigners will undergo further investigation, and those who will be unable to present proper documentation will be charged for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act before the BI Board of Commissioners. /je