Operatives from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested 31 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in online scamming operations during a raid conducted in Makati City on May 5.
BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said the operation was carried out on the 11th floor of a commercial building along Ayala Avenue.
The agents reportedly found dozens of foreign nationals operating computer workstations believed to be used in fraudulent schemes targeting individuals overseas.
Among the 31 foreign nationals apprehended, 24 were Chinese, two Taiwanese, three Malaysian, and two Myanmar nationals. They were all found to be working illegally and have been tagged as undesirable aliens.
Moreover, the company’s office bore the signage of a well-known insurance firm at its entrance, allegedly to conceal its illegal operations within the building.
The arrested individuals are now detained at the Bureau’s Warden Facility (BIWF) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, as deportation proceedings are underway.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stressed that the arrests serve as a firm warning to criminal groups that the Philippines will not tolerate being used as a safe haven for foreign-led cybercrime.
"Foreign nationals who exploit our systems, abuse our hospitality, and engage in illegal acts will be dealt with decisively," he added.
