Chinese nationals, South African fugitive arrested by immigration in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Two Chinese nationals were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in two separate operations for violating Philippine immigration laws, while a South African fugitive wanted for sexual offenses in Kenya was also accounted for in a related operation in Mandaue City.

On March 19, 2026, in Consolacion, Cebu, BI operatives arrested Hongyou Zheng under Mission Order No. 2026-112 after intelligence and verification operations revealed that he had violated the conditions of his pre-arranged employment visa.

Authorities discovered that Zheng was working for a company other than his declared petitioner, a violation punishable under Section 37(a)(7) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, in relation to Sections 5 and 6 of Republic Act 562.

Initial reports also showed that Zheng was engaged in small-scale businesses, including scrap trading and retail operations in Cebu, which were not authorized under the terms of his visa. The agency emphasized that these activities were deemed unauthorized employment and a clear breach of his immigration status.

Investigators further found that Zheng had been using the alias “Jerry Ty,” a Filipino-sounding name. However, records from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the BI showed no official data under the said identity, raising concerns about possible misrepresentation in some of his transactions.

Background checks also revealed Zheng’s links to various Filipino-Chinese community organizations in Cebu.

Authorities noted that such connections may indicate a broader network of personal, social, and professional activities. Some overseas Chinese organizations, they added, have been associated with the United Front Work (UFW) of China, which aims to strengthen influence among overseas Chinese communities, an issue that may carry potential national security implications.

In a separate operation along Colon Street in Cebu City, BI agents also arrested another Chinese national identified as Zunsheng Wu for similar immigration violations.

Wu, who also holds a 9(g) visa, was found to have engaged in employment and business activities outside of his declared employer. Authorities confirmed that he did not possess the required Alien Employment Permit from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Reports indicated that Wu was managing a hardware and construction supply business in Cebu, which was found to be inconsistent with his immigration records. Like Zheng, he was also found to have connections with Filipino-Chinese community organizations in the province.

Both individuals are currently under BI custody and will undergo immigration inquest proceedings.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation on March 18, BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Operations Unit (RIOU-7), arrested a South African national in Mandaue City who is wanted by authorities in Kenya for sexual offenses.

The suspect, identified as Michael James Noble Ballantine, 42, is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for charges of sexual assault and compelled indecent acts under Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act of 2006.

According to reports coursed through the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), Ballantine is wanted for alleged incidents that occurred in August 2024, where he reportedly assaulted victims inside his vehicle.

A Kenyan court issued a warrant of arrest in September 2024, followed by the publication of an Interpol Red Notice in October 2024 after he fled authorities.

BI records showed that Ballantine entered the Philippines in December 2024 as a temporary visitor but has since overstayed, with his authorized stay expiring in 2025. He was also placed under a blacklist and watchlist order that same year for being an undesirable alien and a fugitive from justice.

He was intercepted after filing an application at the BI Cebu District Office.

In a statement posted on the BI Facebook page, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reiterated the government’s firm stance against harboring foreign fugitives, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen border control and protect the public from transnational crimes.

“Foreign nationals who commit crimes, especially those involving sexual offenses, are not welcome in the Philippines. We will not allow our country to be used as a refuge by fugitives attempting to evade justice in their home countries,” Viado said.

The BI chief also commended the operatives and partner agencies for the successful operations, emphasizing the importance of inter-agency coordination in addressing transnational crime.

Ballantine is currently detained under BI custody in Region 7 and will undergo deportation proceedings. He will remain in detention pending confirmation of his deportation and inclusion in the BI blacklist to prevent his re-entry into the country.