CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 6) – Two Chinese nationals who had reportedly lived and done business in the Philippines for nearly 20 years were arrested in Iligan City after authorities found they had been posing as Filipino citizens.
The arrests were carried out Wednesday in Barangay Mahayahay in a joint operation led by the Bureau of Immigration and the Iligan City Police, with support from military units under the 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan.
Identified as Boagui Xu, alias “Stanny Co,” 51, and Lizun Cai, alias “Mia Co,” 50, the two are Chinese nationals who allegedly used Filipino identities in official transactions.
Military reports said one of the suspects was able to secure a late-registered Filipino birth certificate and obtain a Philippine driver’s license under an assumed identity. Both were also found carrying driver’s licenses issued under their Filipino aliases.
Authorities said the case highlights growing scrutiny over identity fraud and documentation irregularities, particularly involving foreign nationals engaged in business activities.
The two were taken to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade headquarters in Iligan City for documentation and turnover to immigration authorities for appropriate legal proceedings.
Officials said the operation underscores tightened interagency coordination to enforce immigration laws and protect the integrity of government-issued documents.
The arrests come just a day after two other Chinese nationals were apprehended in Northern Mindanao over alleged unauthorized gold processing activities in Zamboanga del Norte — signaling intensified enforcement operations in the region.
