Alleged undocumented Chinese national held in E.B. Magalona

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A 42-year-old Chinese national was held at the seaport in Barangay Mantaangan, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, after he allegedly tried to board a vessel bound for Ajuy, Iloilo, without documents on Tuesday.

Commodore Christopher Auro, commander of Coast Guard District Southern Visayas, said the Philippine Coast Guard and police were alerted by FF Cruz Shipping Co. about a suspicious foreign national without documents who sought help in traveling to Ajuy.

Auro said the Chinese national, whose name was withheld for now, told authorities that he was going to Boracay through Ajuy to meet his girlfriend, who works at a hotel there.

However, he did not know his girlfriend’s full name or contact number.

He arrived in the Philippines in 2018 for a vacation but turned out to be overstaying in the country, according to Auro.

Auro said the foreign national claimed that he lost his documents and belongings at a hotel in Makati City.

He went to Bicol and rode a ferry to Bogo, Cebu, then took another ferry to Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, last week.

He also claimed that he walked from Dumaguete City to E.B. Magalona for almost a week and said he had been in the country for eight years.

Upon checking with police, authorities found no derogatory record against the foreign national.

The PCG said he was well and cooperative.

Auro said these were all allegations made by the foreigner and that there was no proof to support them.

The PCG turned him over to the Bureau of Immigration for further investigation and verification of his identity.

Auro thanked the shipping company for its vigilance and the PCG and police for their immediate response in assisting the foreign national.

Auro said the PCG will continue to intensify security in ports to prevent the entry of undocumented individuals into the Negros Island Region.

The incident follows the arrest of 10 Chinese nationals tagged in the PHP 800 million illegal cigarette manufacturing operation in Barangay Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City on April 21.

The Bureau of Immigration handles cases involving foreign nationals who may be overstaying, undocumented, or subject to further identity verification.