Philippines nabs 155, mostly Chinese, for working illegally

MANILA -- The Bureau of IMMIGRATION (BI) issued deportation charges Wednesday against 155 foreign nationals caught working in an office in Pasay City. IMMIGRATION officials said the foreigners, who were working as call center agents and online gambling operators, were arrested on Monday.

BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said the operation stemmed from a report from a concerned individual. BI operatives then verified the report through continuous monitoring and surveillance of the area, according to a statement Wednesday. Operatives proceeded to the area and caught the subjects in the act of working. The foreigners were arrested after failing to present necessary IMMIGRATION documents to allow them to work. The foreigners, mostly Chinese, were charged for deportation under the Philippine IMMIGRATION Act. The Labor department meanwhile reminded Philippine companies to secure working permits for their foreign workers.

"The Department is strictly enforcing the revised rules for the issuance of alien employment permits (AEPs), for which our regional offices have direct responsibility," said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz Baldoz cited Article 40 of the Labor Code, requiring foreigners to obtain an Alien Employment Permit from DOLE. “The AEP is a permit issued to a non-resident alien or foreign national seeking admission to the Philippines for work after it has been determined that a competent and able Filipino citizen is unavailable or unwilling at the time of application to perform the services for which the alien is desired,” said Baldoz. ABS-CBNnews.com