PAMPANGA, Philippines – A composite team of law enforcers arrested 13 Chinese nationals for violating immigration laws following two separate joint operations by the authorities against illegal mining activities in Homonhon Island, Eastern Samar on Wednesday, October 30.
The two operations were conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police Eastern Visayas. It involved two Chinese-run firms: Rockstar Contract Solution Incorporated and Global Min Met Mining Company.
Of the 13 arrested, ten individuals were from Rockstar Contract while three were apprehended from Global Min Met. Those arrested were:
- Zhiye Li
- Bo Yang
- Xiaodong Yang
- Xiaotao Liang
- Jianshe Zhang
- Yan He
- Ning Yang
- Zhongyin Liu
- Liang Zhang
- Yongxin Xu
- Bin Liu
- Zhen Wang
- Chenhui Liu
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said these mining activities were found in strategic locations across the country including conflict areas, near Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, and along areas facing either the Pacific Ocean, the Benham Rise, or the West Philippine Sea.
“Illegal mining operations, apart from the fact that they are transnational organized crimes, we have to think of the possible implications with regards to internal security matters,” Casio told Rappler on Wednesday.
“They are illegal, they do not have valid permits to operate. They are foreigners whose status of stay is not compatible with their current job or business. They are exploiting and destroying our natural resources. It is an organized crime, allegedly being tolerated by some members of LGUs,” Casio said.
Casio said PAOCC has been working together with the BI, AFP, PNP, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources to address these issues.
A case build-up for possible violations of environmental laws, violations of labor laws for illegally acquired alien employment permits, violations of taxation laws due to fraudulent tax identification numbers (TINs) will begin after those arrested are transferred to the PAOCC detention facility in Pasay City, PAOCC said in its report.
All 13 Chinese nationals were transported to Manila for further investigation by the BI.
In October, 11 Chinese nationals were arrested in Camarines Norte over their alleged illegal construction of a mineral processing plant. – Rappler.com