2 Chinese on BI watchlist over fake hospital

MANILA, Philippines — Two Chinese citizens arrested during a raid on a clandestine hospital at Clark Freeport in Pampanga said to be treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have been placed on the watchlist of the Bureau of Immigration.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the suspects as Liu Wei and Hu Shiling, who were released shortly after their arrest on Tuesday last week with no charges filed against them.

“We have placed them on our alert list to prevent them from leaving the country and ensure their presence while they are undergoing criminal and administrative investigation for their alleged offenses,” Morente said. 

He said the suspects could be charged under immigration laws if they violated the conditions of their stay in the country. 

Morente said the BI intelligence division is looking for four Chinese citizens who had been treated in the health facility. 

He said an investigation of Chinese citizens arrested for operating illegal COVID-19 hospitals in Makati City is ongoing. 

Fortunato Manahan Jr., BI intelligence chief, said they are looking into the connection of the illegal hospitals in Pampanga and Makati City. 

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a parallel probe.

Chinese clinic

Meanwhile, a clinic for Chinese citizens was discovered in Barangay Anunas in Angeles City yesterday, according to a source from the office of Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr.

The source said a team of NBI, police and Food and Drugs Administration personnel, who raided the medical facility, found hospital beds, medical equipment and Chinese medicine.

Two Chinese citizens were reportedly arrested.

Lazatin, who was seen with the raiding team, could not be reached for comment. Ding Cervantes, Rudy Santos