Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — Seventeen Chinese nationals were denied entry in the Philippines for misrepresenting the purpose of their trip, the Bureau of Immigration said.
In a statement on Sunday, BI said the Chinese nationals were held by immigration agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
First to be intercepted were 16 Chinese nationals from Zhengzhou, China, who were allegedly sponsored by a local technology firm.
Its intelligence division chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr., however, said they failed to establish their purpose of travel as well as their relationship with the alleged sponsor.
“Their purpose was very doubtful, and they gave conflicting statements. Hence they were denied entry to the country,” Manahan was quoted as saying in the statement.
A Chinese man from Bangkok, Thailand, who claimed to be connected with a solar energy company in the Philippines, was also barred from entering the Philippines for the same reason.
The BI boarded the 17 Chinese nationals on the next flight back to their port of origin. Their names were also included in the blacklist.
