4 Taiwanese nabbed after yacht runs aground in Manila Bay

Four Taiwanese men were arrested for violating immigration laws after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that they were illegally staying in the Philippines.

The four were initially rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after their yacht ran aground in Manila Bay on Thursday night.

“They are deemed undesirable aliens sa record nila, so we coordinated with the immigration, para mai-enforce ang, whatever immigration law na ipapataw sa kanila,” Coast Guard Manila Station Commander Capt. Vincent Laca said in a report on “24 Oras” Friday.

(They are deemed undesirable aliens based on their records, so we coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration to enforce whatever immigration laws may be applicable to them.)

Authorities later discovered that two of the arrested individuals were wanted in Taiwan for drug-related offenses, while the other two were linked to the harboring of illegal entrants.

“The apprehension of two individuals wanted by authorities in Taiwan for drug-related offenses, together with two persons suspected of harboring illegal entrants, underscores the importance of close coordination among law enforcement agencies,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement.

During the incident, the PCG also caught the four allegedly throwing garbage into the sea.

“So may kaso silang administrative sa amin, ngayon may kaso rin sila sa BI,” Laca said.

(So they are facing administrative charges with us, and they are also facing charges before the BI.)

According to the PCG, the four Taiwanese men will be fined P100,000 on top of the administrative cases filed against them.

The suspects underwent booking procedures at the BI headquarters in Manila and are set to be transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa for preliminary investigation.

They declined to issue a statement. However, through a translation application, they told reporters that they would wait for their lawyers.

Authorities are investigating how the yacht ran aground in Manila Bay. Officials said the vessel, which had reportedly been borrowed, may be confiscated if its documents are found to be improper. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/VBL, GMA News