277 Chinese workers arrested in Ortigas

Authorities have arrested 277 Chinese workers in a raid at a corporate center in Ortigas, Pasig City, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente initially issued a mission order to arrest four fugitives wanted by Beijing for engaging in an investment scam, but the operation led to the "incidental arrest" of 273 others who were caught conducting "illegal online operations" last Sept. 11.

In a statement, the BI said it was tipped by the Chinese Embassy that the first four had victimized more than a thousand people and caused damages amounting to more than 100 million RMB.

After verifying with Chinese authorities, the bureau said it learned that the 273 others are also fugitives who are "wanted for large-scale fraud and investment scam in their country."

The Chinese government had cancelled the passports of the 277, making them undocumented aliens, the bureau said.

The foreigners are temporarily detained at the BI's Warden Facility in Taguig as they await deportation. The case has been forwarded to the bureau's legal division for the filing of appropriate charges.

The operation that led to the arrest was conducted by the BI's fugitive search unit in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, the Philippine National Police's Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, the BI said. —KBK, GMA News