5 foreign nationals nabbed for illegal abortion activities

INQUIRER file photo / ALEXIS CORPUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Five foreign nationals involved in illegal abortion activities were arrested, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Wednesday.

According to the BI in a statement, Trinh Dinh Sang, a 29-year-old Vietnamese, was arrested in a joint operation of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Philippine National Police in Pasay City on Monday.

READ: DFA to enforce stricter visa rules for the Chinese, cites Pogo crimes

Arrested with Sang were Nguyen Duy Quynh, 67, and Pham Thi Nhu Hieu, 28, who were also Vietnamese; and Xie Jun, 36 and Zhai Jian Gang, 43, who were Chinese nationals.

Aside from abortion, the five, who were working in a wellness clinic, were also involved in illegal cosmetic enhancement practices, the BI added.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco likewise said in the same statement that the activities of the foreign national is a threat to public safety.

READ: Immigration apprehends two foreign nationals

Meanwhile, BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that most of the clinic’s clients are Vietnamese nationals and that they are looking to file cases against the Filipino incorporators who may be engaged in the scheme.

“‘We are studying the possibility of filing cases against the Filipino incorporators of companies who hire illegal aliens. Because by law they are considered harboring illegal aliens,” Sandoval said.

The BI likewise said that the five will stay at its facility in Taguig pending their deportations.