Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 20) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday urged condominium owners to report illegal activities of foreigners in their buildings after the Senate revealed that units were being turned into scam hubs.
\”Both local law enforcement agencies and the BI have difficulty simply entering condominiums, as these are residential areas, unlike offices of companies,\” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.
\”If there are illegal aliens in your vicinity, report them to immigration, or to the local law enforcement agencies,\” he added. \”Protectors of aliens doing illegal activities in the country are also liable by law.\”
Tansingco said it is already coordinating with the office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros to locate the scam hubs.
\”In the next IACAT (Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking) meeting, we will be suggesting that each agency have a specific, active role in the handling of trafficking cases,” the BI chief said, stressing the need for a \”harmonized approach\” in the government’s fight against trafficking and illegal recruitment.
During the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality hearing on Wednesday, Hontiveros presented an Indonesian national, with the alias \”Ridwan.\”
Ridwan said he was brought to a condominium near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport — called Bayport West NAIA Garden Residences — where he claimed at least 1,000 foreigners were working in different scam operations.
