Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested a Ghanian national posing as a missionary but is suspected to be the mastermind of a West African syndicate hacking automated teller machines (ATMs).
Immigration intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said 34-year-old Victor Patrick was apprehended in a joint operation with the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) last Oct. 14 in a mall in Bicutan, Taguig City.
Manahan said the ISAFP reported that the alien was the principal suspect in hacking ATM machines installed by banks in Moonwalk, Paranaque City.
Manahan said Patrick arrived in the country last April 20, 2019 as tourist and later applied for a missionary visa using a Cebu-based company which turned out to be non-existing.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Patrick will be deported for obtaining an immigration document under false representation.
The BI chief added that they are seeking the assistance of local law enforcement agencies to identify and arrest the other members of the digital fraud group.