Almost 300 Chinese illegal workers deported 

MANILA, Philippines — Almost 300 Chinese nationals who were caught illegally working in the country were deported on Tuesday, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced.

In a statement on Tuesday, the BI said it has deported 294 Chinese nationals in two chartered flights at the Puerto Princesa International Airport.

The said Chinese nationals were part of the 329 foreigners arrested in eight different hotels and establishments on Sept. 16, for “violating the conditions of their stay by working in the country without the necessary permits and visas.”

BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan said that seven minors, who were also intercepted during the arrest of the others, were also deported.

The custody of the minors has been turned over to the Chinese Embassy.

Manahan said that the passports of the 294 Chinese nationals, as well as the seven minors, have also been canceled by the Chinese government, making them undocumented aliens.

The group is the first batch to leave among those arrested in Palawan.

“There is a smaller group of 17 that will all be flown to Manila, whose deportation order is already being processed, while 11 have NBI hits—including the principal—hence we wait for the resolution of their local cases before implementing deportation,” Manahan said in a statement.

Before they were deported, the illegal Chinese nationals were temporarily detained in an inn in Puerto Princesa, which was secured by the BI and Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command. /jpv