DAVAO CITY – Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives apprehended a Chinese woman on Monday morning last week for illegally working as a cashier in a grocery store.
The woman, identified as “Chen,” 46, was arrested by BI intelligence personnel in coordination with the Southern Police District Tactical Operation Center. She was found working at a Chinese grocery store along Quirino Avenue in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.
According to BI records, Chen held a valid working visa issued by the Bureau of Immigration, but it was tied to a different company that petitioned her employment.
“Foreign nationals with working visas are not allowed to work for any other company apart from the one that petitioned their visa,” said BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. “Working for another company is a violation of the conditions of their stay,” he added.
Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued a mission order to arrest Chen after surveillance confirmed she was working at the store. BI operatives conducted a test purchase at the grocery, where they observed Chen manning the cash register, confirming the violation.
Chen was immediately arrested and brought to the BI office in Intramuros for booking and a medical examination. After her inquest, she was transferred to the BI holding facility at Camp Bagong Diwa, where she will remain while her deportation case is resolved.
The BI emphasized its commitment to enforcing immigration laws and warned foreign nationals against violating their visa conditions.
