THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) arrested 21 Chinese nationals last Dec. 18 in Baclaran, Pasay City for illegally working in retail stores in the country. BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said the arrested foreigners were caught in the act of selling retail goods without working permits in two shopping malls. “They will be deported for violating the conditions of their stay in the country and for engaging in gainful activity without the necessary permits,” the BI chief said. BI acting intelligence Chief Fortunato S. Manahan, Jr. said most of those arrested entered the country as tourists while some could not present their travel documents and seemed to be “taking advantage of the holiday rush.” Mr. Morente also noted that the foreigners continued working in the malls despite BI operations conducted in the same establishment over a month ago against several illegal foreigners. “These illegal aliens are brazenly working out in the open, violating immigration laws and steal jobs from Filipinos. We will not stop hunting them down and sending them out,” he said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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