THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the arrest of four Chinese nationals in Agusan del Sur for immigration violations linked to illegal mining, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the government’s campaign against environmental destruction and the unlawful activities of foreign nationals.
According to the BI Intelligence Division Chief, operatives from the Regional Intelligence Operations Unit 13 (RIOU-13) implemented a mission order on October 1 in coordination with the Philippine National Police and government intelligence forces.
The foreigners were taken into custody at the First Municipal Circuit Trial Court in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, after authorities confirmed their violations of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 for misrepresentation and working without valid visas.
The suspects were brought to the Agusan del Sur Provincial Jail for temporary safekeeping.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado underscored the significance of the arrest, noting that this is already the third case of illegal miners apprehended by the Bureau in recent weeks.
“This series of arrests shows that we are unrelenting in our fight against foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality and plunder our natural resources,” said Viado. “As directed by the President, we will continue working hand-in-hand with our law enforcement and intelligence counterparts to put a stop to foreigners involved in illegal mining and other immigration violations, and we will ensure that violators are deported and permanently barred from returning to the Philippines,” he added.
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