Ten foreign nationals were arrested in a series of immigration enforcement operations across Siargao Island after authorities received reports that they were allegedly violating Philippine immigration laws, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the operations were launched following complaints from local residents and business owners regarding the activities of several foreign nationals on the island.
Among those arrested were Israeli nationals Ben Yeshaya Menahem Mendel Rafael, 22, and Aharon Ida, 22, who were found to have overstayed in the Philippines and were allegedly working without the required visas and permits.
The BI said the two were employed at an Israeli restaurant and were also managing a Jewish center despite lacking the proper immigration documents.
They were likewise unable to present their passports during the operation.
Another Israeli national, Abeve Tewabel, 23, was arrested for allegedly working without the necessary immigration documents.
Authorities also tagged him as an undesirable alien due to a previous arrest by local law enforcement.
Israeli national Etay Harari, 51, was also taken into custody after immigration personnel found him working as a disc jockey without the required work authorization.
Meanwhile, Moroccan national Larbi Oirdi, 23, was arrested and is facing immigration charges as an undesirable alien following an earlier arrest involving allegations of unjust vexation, direct assault, serious resistance and disobedience, among other offenses.
Australian national Lauren Elizabeth Fornazieri, 34, was apprehended after authorities discovered that she had allegedly overstayed in the Philippines for nine years while working at a hotel in Siargao without valid immigration status.
The BI also arrested Nigerian national Bill James Augustine, 27, who was allegedly working illegally as a dog trainer.
Lithuanian national Edgar Drozdov, 39, was likewise taken into custody after authorities found him managing a resort and working as a food delivery rider without the necessary work permits.
The operations also resulted in the arrest of Chinese nationals Zhu Guifu, 36, and Chen Anqi, 31, at a surf resort on the island.
According to the BI, both Chinese nationals had overstayed their authorized stay in the Philippines and had existing blacklist records stemming from previous immigration violations.
The Bureau of Immigration said all 10 foreign nationals will be transferred to its detention facility in Manila while undergoing immigration proceedings.
Photo courtesy of Jude Thaddeus Aragon
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