THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the arrest of two illegal aliens in Mindanao who both face deportation for “overstaying” and illegally working in the country.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said they captured an Indian national and a Pakistani.

Morente said operatives from the BI Intelligence Division arrested the two aliens last June 8 during separate operations conducted in Zamboanga City and Basilan.

“They will undergo deportation proceedings for overstaying, being undocumented, and violating the conditions of their stay in the country,” the BI chief said, adding that the duo will be blacklisted afterward and banned from re-entering the Philippines.

According to BI Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., the Indian and Pakistani were subject to complaints from their workplace residents who reported their presence and illegal activities without the required permits and visas.

Manahan said both illegal aliens were found to have arrived in the country years ago, but they did not bother to extend their stay formally.

It was reported that except for a driver’s license, the Indian national could not present his passport, which he claimed was in his friend’s possession.

As for the Pakistani, he admitted his passport expired in 2020 and that he never applied for any visa or extended his stay.

“We also received intelligence reports that he [Pakistani national] is allegedly engaged in smuggling of goods from Malaysia, money lending, and selling of plastic wares in Isabela City (Basilan),” Manahan added.

The BI gathered that the military has also tagged the Pakistani as a “suspicious personality” as he has been spotted frequenting known “havens” of the Abu Sayaf Group (ASG) terror group.

The two aliens will remain at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, while undergoing deportation proceedings.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi