BI Investigates Entry of Chinese National in PH Sans Travel Records
Bureau of Immigration confirms no record of her entry.
(SPOT.ph) A Chinese woman was arrested while attempting to leave the Philippines without proper immigration clearance to be here in the first place.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) took notice of 23-year-old Zhang Zimo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 as she attempted to board a flight back to Guangzhou, China on June 15. Her departure was halted when an immigration officer noticed her passport lacked the BI arrival stamp. Further checks revealed no record of her entering the country.
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Illegal Chinese nationals in the Philippines?
The BI is currently investigating how Zimo managed to slip through the cracks and enter the country. She is now detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City for “evading inspection by immigration officers at the port of entry.”
"It’s a blatant offense for any foreigner to enter the country without inspection and admission by immigration authorities or obtains entry into the Philippines by willful, false or misleading representation,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a press release. “I have ordered a thorough investigation of the incident, to pinpoint who is liable for this incident.”
This incident comes at a time of increased scrutiny over immigration practices in the Philippines, which is partly fueled by the high-profile case of now-suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo who is currently under investigation for her alleged involvement with illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) linked to human trafficking and other crimes.
Senators like Risa Hontiveros and Win Gatchalian argue that her alleged activities represent a broader national security risk, especially with reports of POGOs engaging in hacking and surveillance activities. The tense situation in the West Philippine Sea, where territorial disputes between the Philippines and China continue, has also been going on for years.
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