With the Philippine authorities on alert due to the incursion of Chinese military vessels in the West Philippine Sea, concerns are now being raised about Chinese nationals using Filipino identity documents to operate in the country.
This issue came to light after five foreigners allegedly masquerading as Filipino citizens were arrested in separate operations in Palawan last October 17.
The five foreigners were arrested in a joint operation of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Armed Forces in the Philippines (AFP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Puerto Princesa City and the towns of El Nido and Taytay.
Chinese nationals Lin Yongzhen, 45, and Zhang Haicong, 49, were found to be working in a construction site in Barangay Bucana, El Nido. Lin was found to be possessing a 9(g) working visa under a different company, while Zhang was found to be working under a tourist visa.
Overstaying 'Filipinos'
Meanwhile, Chinese national Zhang Haicong, 33, and Taiwanese national Lin Tsung-Te, 58, were arrested in Barangay Liminangcong in Taytay.
Zhang also possessed a working visa but was working in a different worksite. Lin, on the other hand, failed to present his passport, but was found to be overstaying already since 2016.
Zhang was also found to be misrepresenting himself as a Filipino, having shown a Philippine driver’s license indicating his nationality as such.
Zhang Jinfei, 47, Chinese national who was nabbed in Barangay Tagburos, Puerto Princesa City, was also found to be working in the area despite holding a working visa in a different location in violation of immigration rules.
He also allegedly misrepresented himself as a Filipino citizen by presenting a Philippine driver’s license.
Proxies
All five were found to be working in fisheries near naval bases and were reportedly associated with a Palawan-based organized Chinese crime group involved in illegal activities, including wildlife trade, facilitating the illegal entry of undocumented Chinese nationals and harboring undocumented Chinese nationals, land acquisition through Filipino proxies, and unlawful acquisition of Philippine identification documents.
The suspects will remain in the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig City while facing their deportation cases.
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