Six Chinese nationals are facing deportation following their arrest for illegal mining in Bulacan, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the immigration bureau reported that the foreign nationals were arrested on Oct. 18 for working in the country without permits and for engaging in illegal mining operations in Marilao, Bulacan.
The foreigners were arrested after the bureau received complaints about an illegal export business involving foreign nationals. Residents of Marilao also reported the employment of the illegal Chinese nationals, following concerns about their illegal mining activities in the area.
The foreigners, identified as Chinese nationals Junbo Deng, Yunli Zhou, Jun Li, Wei Lin, and Weike Qu and Taiwan national Cheng Yi Huang are being held at the BI’s warden facility in Taguig pending deportation proceedings, the bureau reported.
Five of the Chinese nationals, who failed to present their passports or other travel documents, were found to be overstaying and undocumented.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the bureau there will be no let up on its drive against illegal foreign workers who “deprive Filipinos of jobs and livelihood opportunities.”
“We welcome the influx of foreign nationals who work here as long as they comply with regulatory requirements and abide by our laws,” said Morente. “However, those who are blatantly and continuously disregarding our laws by working here without the proper documentation will be deported and banned from re-entering the country,” Morente said in a statement.
The BI chief also clarified that foreigners who wish to work in the country must secure a work permit from the Department of Labor and Employment and a working visa from the bureau.
In 2017, a total of 15,970 of foreign nationals were reported to have been working in the Philippines. /ee