Palace says BI should deport illegal Chinese

February 21, 2020

Malacanang said on Friday that the Bureau of Immigration should do its job of deporting Chinese nationals who have been illegally working in the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement amid the thousands of Chinese who allegedly managed to enter the Philippines to work at the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

"All those illegal will be deported...that's the work of the Immigration," he said in an interview.

In a Senate hearing on Thursday, Immigration Officer Allison Chiong, one of the witnesses, expressed the belief that the influx of Chinese workers in the country could be considered as "invasion."

The Senate has been conducting an investigation on the so-called "pastillas operation," a bribing scheme allegedly being made by the Chinese nationals in order that the Immigration officials and employees would allow them entry at the airport.

Chiong admitted that he was also involved in the illegal activity. 

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the relief of those Immigration officers and employees allegedly involved in the pastillas scheme.

An investigation has been ongoing for the possible filing of charges against them. Celerina Monte/DMS