16 Indians nabbed for illegal concert

MANILA, Philippines - An Indian singer, said to be the Elvis Presley of India, and 15 others were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) last Thursday for allegedly holding a concert at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City without securing  special work permits.

Lead vocalist Tejinder Singh was among those who were apprehended, BI spokesperson Ma. Angelica Pedro said.

The 16 Indians reportedly arrived in the country last Dec. 3. They were arrested after the concert and are being held at the BI detention center in Taguig while the bureau prepares to deport them.

Pedro said the Indians engaged in gainful activity by holding a revenue-generating concert on Dec. 4 without securing work permits from the bureau.

She said there were no indications that the proceeds from the concert would go to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda. During an interview last Thursday, the Indians did not say that the earnings would benefit Yolanda victims, Pedro said.

“It is only now, after the interview, that there is talk that the Yolanda victims would benefit,” she said.

The BI official said had the 16 Indians stated upon their arrival at the airport or before the concert that they would do a benefit concert for the Yolanda victims, they would have relaxed immigration rules for them.

The BI has relaxed immigration rules for foreigners who came to the country to extend assistance to the victims. Pedro said these foreigners are allowed to stay in the country for as long as two months.