Army, BI arrest 9 illegal Chinese workers in Sultan Kudarat

 

COTABATO CITY – Nine Chinese nationals were apprehended by authorities on Thursday during a joint law enforcement operation in Sultan Kudarat against illegal foreign workers.

The foreigners were arrested after a raid at Helen Grace S. Camsa Precious Metal Mining Company, located in Sitio Mangas, Barangay Chua in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, the military said on Friday.

The nine foreign nationals allegedly violated the Philippine Immigration Act by working without proper work visa or for being undocumented aliens, and for misrepresentation.

Lt. Col. Tristan Rey Vallescas, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, said a joint operation composed of personnel from Bureau of Immigration-Regional Intelligence and Operation Unit Region 11, Army intelligence units, Bagumbayan municipal police personnel and 7IB troopers, implemented the mission order issued by Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado dated April 7, 2025, against the suspects.

The undocumented foreign nationals, whose identities were withheld, were found to be illegally employed in the construction of a mining processing plant without the necessary work permits.

“Our unit stands ready to assist in operations that uphold the sovereignty of our nation and protect our communities from unlawful practices,” Vallescas said in a statement.

“The success of this (operation) is a reflection of seamless coordination that underscores the importance of unity in addressing complex security challenges,” he added.

Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, commander of the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade, which has administrative and operational control over soldiers in Bagumbayan, lauded the 7IB’s professionalism, coordination, and swift execution of the operation, which resulted in the effective enforcement of immigration laws and the protection of national interests.

“This operation is a testament to the strength of inter-agency cooperation in upholding the rule of law,” Santos said.

“We will continue to support lawful efforts to ensure that foreign nationals comply with the country’s legal requirements, especially when engaging in labor and commercial activities,” he added.

The arrested foreign nationals were brought to the immigration office in Davao City for further documentation and disposition.