THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has detained 34 foreign men caught Tuesday working illegally at a construction site near the SM Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the BI is still verifying the visa status of the Chinese nationals to confirm if they have already overstayed in the country.
He added that those proven to be undocumented or without an appropriate visa will be charged and undergo deportation proceedings for working without a proper visa and for violating the conditions of their stay.
The immigration chief said they arrived here as tourists and that they were employed as construction workers without securing the necessary work permits from the government.
He explained that under the country’s immigration and labor laws, foreigners intending to work here must first apply for a permit from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and a working visa from the BI.
BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. disclosed that the aliens were arrested during a surprise raid at the project site along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue.
The foreigners were employed to do finishing works on an office building in the area.
According to Manahan, Filipino workers in the vicinity cheered as the BI agents conducted the arrest against the erring aliens. (Jun Ramirez)