The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested three Chinese nationals for alleged identity theft and visa violations during a raid on a condominium unit in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City on February 16.
The operation led to the detention of 36-year-old Fang Li, who intelligence reports claim had been assuming another person’s identity to avoid detection while allegedly engaging in illicit local activities. Chen Youliang, 38, was found to be an undocumented alien with an active Blacklist Order, having previously ignored an Order to Leave. Xu Yuxiang, 39, was confirmed to be overstaying after her last recorded visa extension expired in 2020. Fang Li reportedly entered the Philippines in 2022 as a temporary visitor but failed to secure visa extensions, rendering her an overstaying alien as well.
All three are being held at the BI’s warden facility pending deportation proceedings.
Recent BI Operations Highlight Immigration Violations
This raid is the latest in a series of BI operations targeting foreign nationals who overstay or use falsified documents:
- January 2026: A group of Vietnamese nationals was detained in Makati for allegedly using counterfeit documents to operate small businesses while overstaying their visas.
- December 2025: Another Chinese national was arrested in Quezon City for working under a falsified work permit with an expired visa.
Authorities warn that such incidents reflect a growing trend of foreign nationals exploiting loopholes in the immigration system. BI officials continue to monitor and enforce regulations while urging the public to report suspicious activity.
Wider Enforcement Sweep: Other Recent Cases
The Parañaque raid is part of a growing wave of immigration crackdowns across the country. Days later, the BI detained four foreign nationals in Angeles City, Pampanga, linked to online scams and telecom fraud. All were undocumented, and some were overstaying their visas. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned that the Philippines would not be “a breeding ground for scam hubs.”
Meanwhile, in Panglao, Bohol, a Chinese national was arrested for misrepresenting himself as a Filipino using a local driver’s license. Authorities are investigating possible links to networks operating in Cebu and Bohol, highlighting ongoing concerns over false identities and visa abuses.
These cases show the BI’s intensified enforcement: foreign nationals who overstay, use fraudulent IDs, or engage in illegal activities face arrest and deportation.
