Photo credit: BI

SAN FRANCISCO, AGUSAN DEL SUR — Authorities have tightened the screws on illegal miners as the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested four Chinese nationals in Agusan del Sur for alleged immigration violations linked to illegal mining operations.

The October 1 operation, carried out by the BI’s Intelligence Division together with RIOU-13, the PNP, and other intelligence agencies, led to the foreigners’ arrest right inside the First Municipal Circuit Trial Court in San Francisco. Officials say the men misrepresented themselves and were working in the country without proper visas — clear violations of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.

The suspects are now being held at the Agusan del Sur Provincial Jail while cases against them are being prepared.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stressed that this was already the third wave of arrests in just the past few weeks — proof, he said, that the government is serious about stopping foreigners from exploiting the country’s natural resources.

“This series of arrests shows that we are unrelenting in our fight against foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality and plunder our natural resources,” Viado said. “As directed by the President, we will keep working closely with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to shut down illegal mining operations, deport violators, and make sure they never set foot in the Philippines again.”