Chinese nationals top foreign violators in Philippine

MANILA, Philippines — The influx of Chinese citizens in the Philippines has resulted into their getting the top spot in the list of foreign violators in 2019, records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed. The BI said they arrested 2,257 erring foreigners in its various operations from January to December 2019.

Of the number, at least 1,577 were Chinese. Other violators came from Taiwan (66), Myanmar (45), India (25) and Vietnam (19). The BI intelligence division collared 1,836 of the foreigners while the fugitive search unit arrested 421.

Fortunato Manahan Jr., BI acting intelligence chief, said majority of the Chinese were arrested either for illegally staying in the country, engaging in cyber fraud activities or operating unauthorized online gaming.  

“Some of those arrested were not only illegally working here. They were also suspected of involvement in terrorism while others are wanted fugitives,” he added.