Chinese national nabbed in Cebu for fake identity, illegal business

A CHINESE national posing as a Filipino citizen and four other Chinese nationals were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) 7 in Cebu for violating immigration and labor laws.

Wang Chaoxin, 32, was apprehended on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, after military intelligence operatives discovered he had been using a false identity.

Wang allegedly obtained a Philippine driver’s license and birth certificate under a fake Filipino name and registered a trading company using that assumed identity, according to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

The operation, carried out jointly with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) offices in Cebu and Manila, also resulted in the arrest of four other Chinese nationals.

Three of them held work visas but were found to be employed by companies other than their declared petitioners, while the fourth was working without a permit, thus violating the conditions of their stay in the country.

The BI operatives did not specify the exact location in Cebu where the arrests took place.

This crackdown follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect the country’s sovereignty by targeting foreign nationals engaged in illegal activities.

Commissioner Viado emphasized that the successful operation was made possible through close coordination with the AFP and NBI, allowing swift action on intelligence reports to hold accountable those abusing the immigration system.

The Philippines has been intensifying efforts to enforce immigration and labor laws, especially against foreign nationals who misrepresent their identities or violate visa conditions. Such measures aim to safeguard national security and uphold the integrity of the country’s immigration system.

This case highlights ongoing vigilance against identity fraud and unauthorized employment by foreigners, which can undermine legal processes and economic regulations. / PR, DPC