Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents reported the arrest of three illegal aliens in separate operations in Davao City.
Arrested on Thursday afternoon by the BI’s Mindanao Intelligence Task Group (MITG) was 35-year-old Tejpal Singh. Singh was the subject of a Mission Order issued by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente after receiving reports confirming that he has been overstaying in the country for two years.
According to BI MITG head Melody Gonzales, subsequent investigations also revealed that Singh was working as a cook in a popular Indian restaurant along the Circumferential Road.
In a parallel operation, MITG operatives also arrested Prakashkumar Vishnubai Patel, 31 and Manojkumar Ranchhodbai Patel, 51 in a nearby restaurant, following a Mission Order issued against them.
Prakashkumar was arrested for overstaying and for working without a proper work visa or permit. On the other hand, Manojkumar was found to have misrepresented during his visa application as he was working in an establishment other than what was stated in his visa.
Morente commended the BI’s Intelligence Division for the back-to-back arrest. “These aliens will be deported for violating the Philippine Immigration Act,” said Morente. “Those who abuse the hospitality of the Filipino people and work here without proper documentation will be deported and blacklisted,” he warned.
The trio will be temporarily held at the BI Davao holding facility pending deportation proceedings.
OCTA warns new COVID-19 surge
The independent OCTA Research Group warned Filipinos that there is still a possibility of another COVID surge if everyone does not follow the implemented minimum public health protocols now that Metro Manila and other areas are on Alert Level 1.
OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said that although less than a thousand cases of COVID-19 have been reported daily in the past few days, it could still suddenly change in the coming months.
According to their analysis, the surge usually occurs after every three months so that it can occur in April or May.
This will happen if the public fails to comply with minimum health standards such as regularly wearing a face mask, washing hands with alcohol, and staying away from people.
It can also trigger large-scale human gatherings such as ongoing campaign rallies and lowering a person’s immunity given the vaccine.
But OCTA hopes that the number of new cases will continue to drop to just 500 by the end of March.
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