Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents last June 28 arrested 4 Indian men suspected tagged as illegal aliens by the agency.
BI intelligence division chief Fortunato ‘Jun’ Manahan, Jr. shared that members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Tawi-Tawi reported monitoring four Indians aboard a vessel.
The Indian men were identified as Lakhwinder Singh Brar, 30; Parwinder Singh, 21; Sukhraj Singh Dubb, 32; and Jagjit Chohan, 36.
Upon arrival of the said vessel in Bongao, the PCG identified another foreign national, a Malaysian man named Bryan Joel Ng, 25 who was allegedly traveling with a Filipina girlfriend.
During the initial interview of the PCG, all 4 Indian men were found to have no immigration stamps, while Ng was unable to present his passport.
The PCG immediately reported the matter to BI regional intelligence operating unit IX agents, who proceeded to the site to implement the arrest armed with a mission order signed by Commissioner Norman Tansingco, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Intelligence Unit 9, PNP Zamboanga City Police Office, and the PNP Intelligence Group.
It was found out that the 4 Indians are blacklisted from the Philippines, and were attempting to enter illegally to circumvent immigration inspections. Meanwhile, Ng is suspected to be involved in trafficking.
All five were arrested and were recommended to be charged for illegal entry, in violation of Section 37(a)(1) of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.
“Our close coordination with government agencies who monitor the country’s vast shorelines is necessary in protecting the Philippines against illegal entrants,” said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco. “The partnership between the PCG and the BI is crucial in stopping the attempts of these illegal aliens,” he added.
