BI probes firms that hired 30 Chinese workers

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is investigating establishments in Parañaque City that hired 30 Chinese who allegedly do not possess working permits, an official said yesterday.

The BI “is studying if there are cases that can be filed against these establishments” housed at the SoleMare Parksuites and Aseana Power Station buildings, both on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, spokesperson Dana Mengote-Sandoval said.

“Hiring undocumented workers is tantamount to harboring illegal aliens,” she added.

The bureau, however, is completing its probe of the 30 Chinese who reportedly rounded up from offices in the two buildings, where they worked as cooks, hair stylists and vendors. 

“We will get there. We are still in the process of filing charges against the 30 aliens,” who are being held at the BI Detention Center in Taguig City pending their deportation, Sandoval said.

BI Intelligence Division operatives raided these establishments on Feb. 7 and rounded up 47 Chinese and one Taiwanese. However, 17 of the Chinese and the Taiwanese were released after they presented working visas.

The division “received anonymous information that numerous foreigners were working illegally in the area. I immediately issued a mission order to conduct the arrests upon confirmation that these aliens are there illegally,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. disclosed that before they implemented the raid, they conducted a surveillance operation. 

“Most of them were working under a tourist visa. Many were undocumented and were even overstaying,” he said. 

Morente ordered the implementation of stricter requirements for special work permits to foreigners planning to work in the country following reports that foreigners are taking jobs that could have been performed by Filipinos.