Three Pakistanis, all of them with alleged link to terrorist groups, have been arrested in Mindanao for "overstaying" in the Philippines.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) identified the arrested foreigners as Faizan Muhammad, 34; Ali Wahab, 36; and Ajmal Ali, 35. They were charged with violations of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.
The BI said that "Ali was tagged by a report as a supplier of materials for a local extremist group in Central Mindanao.” It said Muhammad was arrested in Zamboanga del Sur, while Ali and Ajmal were nabbed in Lanao del Sur.
It said the arrest of Muhammad and Ali were based on the complaint filed by a Filipina who claimed the two foreigners owed her merchandise.
“The complaint alleged that Muhammad possesses an expired travel document and is already overstaying in the country since 2015, and that he and Ali threatened to kill the Filipina as they said they were supported by a terrorist group," it also said.
After confirmation of the foreigners status as overstaying aliens, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansincgo issued an order for their arrest.
The BI said that when arrested “Muhammad was unable to show a passport and even presented a Philippine National ID despite being a foreign national.”
In the case of Ajmal, BI said that immigration operatives found him together with Ali in Lanao del Sur.
It also said: "Ali also presented a Philippine driver’s license stating his nationality as Filipino. Both Ali and Ajmal failed to present their travel documents."