An Indian and an American are facing deportation following their arrest by Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents for illegally staying in the country.
BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. disclosed the Indian, Vel Murugan Ayyadurai, 49, was arrested in Manila last Nov. 12 while American Peter Robert Saunders, 83, was apprehended last Nov. 15 in Bauang, La Union.
Manahan said BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued a mission order against the two aliens after informants tipped the bureau about their unlawful presence in the country.
He added that Ayyadurai will be deported for working without a permit while Saunders had been overstaying in the country for one year.
Investigation revealed that Ayyadurai owned and managed a cafe located on San Macelino Street in Ermita, Manila.
He allegedly ran his restaurant without bothering to secure a work permit from the Department of Labor and Employement (DoLE) and a working visa from the BI.
Saunders, on the other hand, defied the BI’s order for him to leave the country last January after the bureau’s board of commissioners cancelled his permanent visa at the request of his estranged Filipina wife.
Morente again warned foreigners not to violate the country’s immigration laws to avoid arrest and deportation.
“For making a mockery of our laws, these two aliens will be included in our blacklist and banned from re-entering the Philippines,” the BI chief said.
He appealed to the public to report to the BI illegal aliens who are in their neighborhoods and workplaces. (Jun Ramirez)