Bureau of Immigration to deport 2 foreigners

MANILA, Philippines - Two foreigners are set to be deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for allegedly entering the country through the “back door,” an official said yesterday.

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said agents separately arrested Steven Nicol Herbert, an Australian, and Gul Hussain, at their residences in Zamboanga City last Dec. 20. The two men are being held at the immigration jail in Bicutan, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

Herbert arrived at the port of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi from Sampona, Malaysia last Oct. 1. He was able to return to the Philippines despite being blacklisted by the BI in March last year for failing to pay his visa extension fees due to financial distress.

Hussain refused to divulge how he entered the country and was not able to produce any travel papers. – Helen Flores, Rudy Santos