Immigration agents arrested three Pakistani nationals caught working in Zamboanga and Isabela cities in Mindanao without the required employment permits and visas.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente has ordered the deportation of the arrested Pakistanis identified as Zada Rahim, Ali Sajid, and Muhammad Salim who are now detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
Operatives from 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, while Muhammad was arrested in their branch in Isabela City, Basilan.
They were arrested after being informed that the Pakistanis were employed as cashier and helpers.
The trio were found in the same establishment where a Pakistani named Waqar Ahmad was arrested by BI agents, also for working in the country without a working visa and for being an undesirable alien.
Military intelligence authorities tagged Ahmad as a possible member of the Dawah Islamiyah Group allegedly behind terror attacks in Basilan.
Immigration intelligence officer Melody Gonzales, BI-MITG head, said it was Ahmad who, during questioning, tipped her team 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,” Gonzales said.