Manila: Ten foreign nationals were arrested in a series of operations across Siargao Island, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Monday. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that local residents and business owners reported that the foreign nationals were allegedly violating Philippine immigration laws.
According to Philippines News Agency, among those arrested were Israeli nationals Ben Yeshaya Menahem Mendel Rafael and Aharon Ida, both 22 years old, who were found overstaying and working without the appropriate visas and permits. The two were reportedly employed at an Israeli restaurant and were also managing a Jewish center despite lacking the required immigration documents. They were unable to present their passports during the operation.
Another Israeli national, Abeve Tewabel, 23, was apprehended for working without the proper documentation and was also tagged as an undesirable alien following a previous arrest by local authorities. Fellow Israeli Etay Harari, 51, was arrested after being found working as a disc jockey without the necessary work authorization.
Also arrested was Moroccan Larbi Oirdi, 23, who is facing immigration charges as an undesirable alien in connection with his previous arrest for unjust vexation, direct assault, serious resistance, and disobedience, among other offenses. Australian national Lauren Elizabeth Fornazieri, 34, was arrested after authorities found that she had overstayed in the Philippines for nine years while working at a hotel in Siargao without valid immigration status.
Nigerian national Bill James Augustine, 27, was apprehended for illegally working as a dog trainer, while Lithuanian national Edgar Drozdov, 39, was found managing a resort and working as a food delivery rider without the required permits. The operations led to the arrest of Chinese nationals Zhu Guifu, 36, and Chen Anqi, 31, who were located at a surf resort. Both were found to be overstaying and had existing blacklist records arising from previous immigration violations.
The foreign nationals will be held at the bureau's detention facility in Manila while undergoing immigration proceedings.
