BI agents nab 36 Chinese, Taiwanese in Divisoria mall

MANILA,Philippines - Agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested some 36 Chinese and Taiwanese reportedly doing business in a shopping mall in Manila without proper work permits and travel documents.

Acting BI Intelligence head Carlito Licas said most of the those rounded up Tuesday at the 999 Shopping Mall in Divisoria district, do not have any passport or valid work permit and visa.

He said the bureau received several complaints about illegal aliens openly engaged in retail trade at the mall.

However, upon verification of their status, 20 of them including a 15-year-old female from mainland China were released shortly after they presented valid documents on their stay in the country, Licas said.

He noted that a mission order has been issued against Ting Ting Gong, a 23-year-old female, after she slipped out of the BI offices when allowed to use the bathroom.

Gong reportedly arrived in the country as a tourist on Dec. 4, 2009 and never adjusted her status, which is in violation of Immigration laws in the country.

The 16 other foreigners remaining in BI custody were identified as Qingping Cai, Lifen Qui, Shaocong Wu, Irenea Chua, Xiulian Dong, Meijiao Lin, Pei de Wu, Lingya Lin, Yingwei Cai, Shaoling Wang, Nanguo Zhang, Zhenyi Chen, Danyang Cai, Qiuren Chen, Huapeng Wang, all of People’s Republic of China, and John Govito of Taiwan.

Three Filipino workers were also taken into custody along with the Chinese nationals, but were later released.

Last January 15, immigration agents also apprehended 25 Chinese nationals engaged business in another shopping mall in Baclaran, Parañaque City.

In December last year, the BI and the National Bureau of Investigation raided the 168 Mall in Divisoria, arresting several “Chinese businessmen” while operating a "tiangge" or flea market bazaar.