BI nabs 46 illegal foreign workers

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested yesterday 46 foreigners at a shopping mall in Baclaran, Pasay City for illegally working in the country.

The foreigners -- mostly Chinese, Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals – were brought to the BI main office in Intramuros to check their working visas and travel documents, BI intelligence division acting chief Jose Carlitos Licas said.

Licas said the BI was assisted by the Philippine National Police Regional Public Safety Battalion during the raid on the Baclaran Bagong Milenyo plaza mall.

The foreigners were engaged in selling items such as mobile phones, accessories, slippers and umbrellas without working permits, BI spokesman Elaine Tan said.

Tan said most of the foreigners failed to present travel documents.

She said the BI operation was conducted after weeks of surveillance.

BI officials said the foreigners would undergo deportation proceedings.

Tan said the illegal foreign workers would be detained at the BI facility in Taguig pending their deportation.