Immigration to deport 3 Chinese allegedly involved in drug smuggling

May 21, 2018

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is poised to deport three foreign nationals arrested recently by the military in Basilan for illegally entering the country.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, BI-Anti-Terrorist Group (ATG) Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. identified the aliens as Tsui Tsz Kin, Ho Chun Wai and Wong Po, all nationals of the Hongkong Special Administrative Region.

Manahan said the three aliens were intercepted by armed forces personnel in the vicinity of Pilas Island, Hj Mutamad, Basilan two weeks ago while they were aboard a speedboat that ran out of fuel at sea.

"We are investigating their possible involvement in drug trafficking, human, trafficking and smuggling," Manahan said, adding that the aliens have so far remained uncooperative during questioning.

They alleged that they were just conducting testing procedures on their speedboat before they drifted into Philippine waters due to bad weather.

Reportedly seized from the aliens were several high-tech cellular phones, satellite phones, GPS devices, and credit cards.

They are now detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

Manahan said BI prosecutors are set to file charges of violating the Philippine immigration act, which penalizes illegal entrants, against the aliens before the bureau's board of commissioners.

Dubbed as one of the priority projects and initiatives of Morente, the BI-ATG was created in June last year to underscore the bureau's active involvement in the fight against terrorism and other transnational crimes. DMS