BUREAU of Immigration (BI) agents arrested 154 Chinese nationals for possible violation of immigration laws and being allegedly involved in illegal online gambling in Pampanga Friday night.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the foreigners were apprehended during a raid of the suspects' rented unit at the Dong Gwang annex building in Clark Field, Angeles City on September 9.
Members of the BI Intelligence Division and Angeles City Police Office, led by Police Senior Superintendent Sidney Villaflor conducted the raid.
The arresting agents were armed with a mission order from the BI chief after the aliens' presence in the building's second and third floors was confirmed as a result of intensive surveillance for several weeks.
"The sustained effort to weed out illegal aliens and undocumented foreign nationals continues to gain ground with the help of our partners in law enforcement and the community," Morente said in a statement.
The arrested Chinese nationals would undergo summary deportation proceedings for violating the conditions of their stay in the Philippines and for engaging in activities inimical to the public interest.
BI Spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang said that the mission order has directed the Intelligence Division to conduct operations and verify status of subjects.
The Chinese nationals are confined in an Immigration facility in Clark. (FP/Sunnex)