BI deports Chinese nationals arrested for economic crimes, black sand mining

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported seven Chinese nationals arrested for various crimes including alleged unauthorized black sand mining in Zambales.

The alleged fugitives were sent back to China on Thursday and Friday, several months after being arrested in September 2019, the BI said in a statement on Monday.

Three of the Chinese nationals were arrested in Masinloc, Zambales after allegedly being caught by BI agents engaging in black sand mining, the BI said.

Three others were supposedly among the more than 200 illegal foreign workers arrested in Ortigas for allegedly running an online investment scam that victimized their fellow Chinese, the BI added.

The other alleged fugitive is among the more than 300 foreign workers arrested in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan over what authorities said were illegal online gaming operations.

The BI said the seven Chinese nationals are also barred from reentering the Philippines.

BI Port Operations Chief Grifton Medina said the bureau is facilitating deportations in compliance with Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente's order to expedite the resolution of cases against foreigners detained at their detention facility in Taguig as a way to decongest it in the time of COVID-19. --Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KBK, GMA News