CHINESE NATIONALS topped the list of the foreigners arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in 2018. In a statement, the BI said it arrested 533 foreigners and deported 611 last year for violating the immigration act. BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said many of those arrested were caught working without permits or involved in “gainful activity without proper visas.” Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato S. Manahan, Jr. said most of the cases involved overstaying, illegal foreign vendors, and illegally employed as construction workers, miners, and in blue collar jobs. Of those arrested, 393 were Chinese, followed by 52 Koreans, 12 Americans, and a number of different African nationalities. Mr. Morente also clarified that the 533 arrested do not include the more than 200 fugitives arrested. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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