THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday announced the arrest of six illegal aliens in separate operations in the past few days in Davao province as part of the agency’s continuing drive against undocumented foreign nationals staying in the country.
The six illegal aliens are identified as Indonesian nationals Jimbirs Da Lema and Supian Undingan; Sri Lankan national Warnakula Weerasuriya Jayathilaka a.k.a. Anton Rowel; Korean national Kim Yoonsig; and American Branden Fitzgeral Dandridge.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the illegal aliens were arrested in separate operations conducted by the bureau’s Mindanao Intelligence Task Group (MITG) based in Davao City.
Morente said they are now undergoing investigation by the BI prosecutors in Davao City.
Da Lema and Undingan were arrested on May 15 in General Santos City by MITG operatives led by BI intelligence officer Melody Gonzales.
The two were earlier arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Sarangani RFU for selling fake local cigarettes.
The following day, BI operatives arrested Ayathilaka in Tagum City, Davao del Sur based on a complaint alleging that he is an undocumented and an overstaying alien.
On the same day, MITG operatives also arrested Korean national Kim Yoonsig also in Tagum City who has been in the BI’s blacklist for being undocumented.
On the other hand, Dandridge was arrested by BI authorities at a popular wakeboarding resort in Davao City also for being undocumented.
Co, who has been overstaying in the country for eight years, was arrested in Cagayan de Oro City on May 20.
“The apprehension of these illegal aliens stemmed from complaints we received regarding the activities of these undesirable foreigners in various places in the South. Hence we encourage the public to report to us the presence of any illegal alien in their areas, and they are assured that these reports will be acted upon,” Morente said.