BI to deport blacklisted Malaysian

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport a blacklisted Malaysian who managed to reenter the Philippines.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau is working on the deportation of Hii Kien Tong, 32, who is being held at the BI detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Hii was intercepted at the Zamboanga port on Wednesday while he was about to board MV Antonio 1 bound for Sandakan, Malaysia.

He was not allowed to leave the port after immigration officers saw his name in the BI’s database of blacklisted aliens.

Hii has been in the BI’s blacklist since Dec. 27, 2022 for illegally working in an online gaming hub with a canceled license to operate.

Investigation showed that he attempted to enter the country through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Dec. 9, 2023.