37 illegal Chinese workers nabbed in Cotabato City

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-seven Chinese nationals illegally working at a construction site in Cotabato City have been arrested by agents of the Bureau of Immigration.

The BI said the arrest of the foreigners on Nov. 13 was made possible through the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Bureau of Investigation.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said he issued a mission order covering the foreigners based on information provided by another government agency.

The agency requested the BI to check reports about a group of foreigners illegally working at the construction site of a shopping mall in Cotabato City.

Viado said several of the Chinese nationals presented working visas, but the document showed they were hired by a company other than the one operating the construction site.

Some presented tourist visas while others failed to present any document.