MANILA, Philippines — Five foreign nationals who are blacklisted have been arrested in Tawi-Tawi, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.
In the press release issued on Tuesday, the agency said that its agents arrested four Indian nationals and a Malaysian national on June 28 who did not have the necessary travel documents and requirements.
According to the BI, the personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Tawi-Tawi reported monitoring four Indian nationals aboard a vessel.
Upon the arrival of the said vessel in Bongao in Tawi-Tawi, the PCG discovered a Malaysian national allegedly traveling with a Filipina girlfriend.
According to the BI, the initial interview revealed that the Indian nationals lacked immigration stamps, while the Malaysian national was unable to present a passport.
It was later found that the four Indian nationals are on the Philippines' blacklist and were trying to enter illegally to evade immigration checks.
The Malaysian national, on the other hand, is suspected to be involved in human trafficking.
The BI recommended that the five foreign nationals be charged for illegal entry, citing a violation of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.
Philstar.com has reached out to the Embassy of India for a comment concerning the arrest of the four Indian nationals, but they have yet to reply.