BI: Limited detention facility a challenge amid increasing arrests of foreign nationals

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday said the limited capacity of its detention facility is a challenge for the agency amid the increase in the number of arrested foreign nationals.

In a radio interview, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau’s Bicutan Detention Center, which has a capacity of 300 detainees, now holds more than 200 arrested foreigners.

“It’s really a challenge 'yung ating detention facility kasi kung hindi ako nagkakamali it houses around 300 plus lang of foreign nationals, 'yun ang capacity niya,” she said.

(The detention facility is really a challenge because, if I am not mistaken, it only has a capacity of 300.)

“But ngayon ang last kong check is around 200 plus na 'yung laman niya (But now, last time I checked, it holds over 200 detainees.)

Sandoval said authorities apprehended 91 foreign nationals in Pasig City on Friday and 41 others in Angeles City on Saturday.

The arrested foreign nationals were brought to the Bicutan detention facility.

According to Sandoval, the BI is coordinating with local enforcement units and agencies to temporarily transfer to them the physical custody of arrested foreign nationals.

“What we are doing now is we are partnering with the local enforcement unit agencies, 'yung kasama po natin sa panghuhuli, para temporarily sa kanila muna 'yung physical custody of  foreign nationals para sila po muna ang mag-house nung mga naaresto,” she said.

(What we are doing now is partnering with the local enforcement unit agencies, those we work with during operations, to temporarily transfer to them the physical custody of arrested foreign nationals.)

Authorities recently conducted operations against foreign nationals allegedly engaged in illegal activities amid reports of kidnapping incidents involving Chinese nationals.

Sandoval said most of the arrested foreigners failed to present proper documents during inspection. She said these foreigners probably do not have documents or their handlers are keeping them.

She said the BI cannot immediately deport arrested foreigners as authorities have to check first if they have unsettled cases in the country.

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III urged Malacañang to heed calls for the total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs), as the country "has become a playground for undesirable foreign nationals."

Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will look into the records of foreign nationals and the business permits of POGOs in light of recent kidnapping cases.—AOL, GMA News