Manila, Philippines — In a concerted effort to enforce immigration laws, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) successfully completed operations resulting in the arrest of five foreign nationals across Pangasinan and Ifugao provinces. This initiative is part of an intensified crackdown on overstaying and undocumented individuals.
The apprehended individuals were transported to the Bureau’s main office in Manila for formal booking and legal processing. Subsequently, they are detained at the BI Warden Facility in Taguig City, pending deportation proceedings.
One significant arrest occurred in Dagupan City on April 25, where Emmanuel Emeka Ndukwe, a 34-year-old Nigerian national, was detained near a church in Barangay Bolosan. Ndukwe was found without proper documentation, possessing an expired passport. Complications arose during his booking as he reportedly became aggressive, resulting in assaults on two BI personnel, including a medical staff member.
Subsequent operations on April 28 in Lagawe led to the arrest of four Chinese nationals. Yang Yongxiang, 53, alongside Yuan Tonghua and Zeng Jiakuan, were engaged in activities at the Ibulao Hydro Power Plant without valid visas or necessary work permits. Additionally, Gan Yiyun, aged 30 and the spouse of one of the aforementioned individuals, was detained for her involvement in unauthorized employment and misrepresentation.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado commended the law enforcement agencies’ collaborative efforts in executing these operations, underscoring the administration’s dedication to upholding stringent immigration policies as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. This series of arrests highlights the government’s ongoing commitment to address immigration violations and maintain public order.