3 Pakistanis arrested for working sans permits

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said it is conducting deportation proceedings against three Pakistanis who were caught in the act of working in Mindanao without the required employment permits and visas.

According to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, the foreigners identified as Zada Rahim, Ali Sajid, and Muhammad Salim were arrested in separate operations on the strength of a mission order issued by the BI chief last month.

They have been transferred to the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

The BI’s Mindanao intelligence task group (MITG) arrested Zada and Ali inside their workplace at the Buner Appliances Store along Governor Lim Avenue, Zamboanga City on July 8.

On the other hand, Muhammad was apprehended

in a subsequent operation last July 10 in their branch in Isabela City, Basilan.

The three were employed as cashier and helpers in two branches of the appliance store.

It was learned that they were found in the same establishment where another Pakistani named Waqar Ahmad was arrested by BI agents last June 13, also for working in the country without a visa and for being an undesirable alien.

He was tagged as a possible member of the Dawah Islamiyah Group allegedly behind terror attacks in Basilan by military intelligence authorities.

On the other hand, BIMITG head Melody Gonzales said that during questioning, Ahmad who disclosed about several other Pakistanis who were also working in the store.

“We caught them in flagrante working when we arrived at the location. We later confirmed that they are only here as tourists and do not have the appropriate visas to work in the country,” she added.

Morente noted that they will be barred in the country as they will be included in the BI’s blacklist upon deportation.