Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested 17 alien vendors in a raid in Divisoria, Manila.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said most of them were males caught selling imported agricultural produce without immigration visas.
The operations arose from complaints of local vendors about losing their livelihood due to competition from illegal aliens.
“We were initially targeting only one individual but upon arriving in Sto. Cristo Street last Monday, we saw 17 foreign nationals selling garlic, onions, and other produce,” said BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr.
He said they were doing their trade right on the sidewalk without permit from the local government, “probably not paying any tax.”
Meanwhile, Morente warned anew illegal foreign vendors to stay out of the country, saying “do not try to earn income during the holiday rush through illegal means.”
The 17 Chinese nationals were brought to the BI detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending deportation proceedings. (Jun Ramirez)
