The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested 28 foreign nationals in a series of operations targeting illegal workers and immigration violators in Davao de Oro, Pasay City, and Pampanga.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the operations, conducted from April 22 to May 8, were aimed at foreign nationals allegedly involved in illegal mining, unauthorized retail trade, and other violations of Philippine immigration laws.
The largest operation took place on April 22 in Davao de Oro and Tagum City, where BI agents arrested 20 Chinese nationals.
The raid was carried out by personnel from the BI Regional Intelligence Operations Unit (RIOU)-Mindanao and Intelligence Division Main, together with military intelligence teams.
Authorities said 16 of the Chinese nationals were found at an illegal mining site, while four others were arrested at a nearby warehouse. None of them had proper working visas, according to the BI.
Explosives and protected wildlife species were also reportedly discovered at the site.
In separate operations, BI agents arrested six more foreign nationals at a mall in Pasay City on May 7. They included four Chinese nationals and two Bangladeshi nationals allegedly caught working without proper immigration documents.
The following day, immigration agents in Pampanga arrested a 66-year-old Pakistani national who was allegedly undocumented and overstaying in the country.
The BI said all 28 foreign nationals are now under its custody and facing deportation proceedings for violating Philippine immigration laws.