HOMONHON, EASTERN SAMAR – A total of 13 Chinese nationals were arrested for illegal mining in Homonhon Island, Eastern Samar, on October 30, 2024.
The said foreign nationals were taken into custody at approximately 9:00 a.m., according to a preliminary report from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) following the issuance of a mission order by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for breaking immigration laws.
The suspects were nabbed in two separate joint operations implemented by PAOCC, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and BI. The said foreigners were then brought to the PNP Regional Office for medical examination and detention.
According to PAOCC, a case build-up will soon begin against the foreigners for potential violations of labor laws for fraudulently obtaining alien job licenses, violations of environmental laws, and violations of tax laws because of their bogus tax identity numbers. By Gwen Maurillo (EV Mail October 28-November 03, 2024 issue)
