13 Vietnamese held for illegal spas, clinics

MANILA, Philippines — Thirteen Vietnamese who were allegedly illegally operating four health spas and clinics in Metro Manila were recently arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

In a statement yesterday, the BI said that the 13 Vietnamese were arrested separately on Feb. 29 in two clinics in Makati and one clinic each in Parañaque and Pasay.

“The audacity of these illegal aliens to be running their operation in the middle of the Metro,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.

“We received intelligence information about their presence and activities, hence I immediately ordered their arrest,” he added.

The Vietnamese were unable to present documentation during the arrest.

The BI filed charges against the 13 aliens for working without a proper permit or visa and for being undocumented aliens.

One of the Vietnamese reportedly had a working visa, but he was caught working at a company other than the firm that petitioned his visa, according to the BI.

Tansingco appealed to local government officials to immediately inform the bureau if there are suspicious foreigners in their communities.

“These illegal aliens are operating their business in broad daylight, perhaps thinking that they will not be caught. We urge local government units, barangays and community members to report illegal aliens in your areas so we can immediately arrest and deport them,” he said.

The BI said that the 13 Vietnamese would be held at the bureau’s detention facility in Taguig until a resolution is issued on the deportation cases filed against them.