The Bureau of Immigration (BI) assured its cooperation in the investigation of a "Chinese mafia" whose members are reportely engaged in securing Philippine passports for Chinese nationals who pose as Filipino traders.

“We see this as a national security concen that should be addressed holistically by all government agencies concerned,” said BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval.

Sandoval cited that BI’s officers at the country’s international ports have “intercepted numerous such cases of foreign nationals pretending to be Filipinos by using different Philippine documents.”

“The BI is ready to provide data on previous interceptions and trends, as well as future arrests, as required by investigations,” she said.

In the meantime, Sandoval said the BI will continue to implement “strict immigration formalities for both arriving and departing foreigners, as well as our monitoring of aliens residing and sojourning in the country to be able to rid the country of such illegal aliens.”

“We likewise encourage concerned citizens to report to the BI any illegal alien that might be abusing Philippine documents for investigation, arrest, and deportation,” she urged the public. 

Sandoval's statement was issued in behalf of BI after Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers called on the BI, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and local government to catch the members of this “Chinese mafia.” 

Barbers said that the scheme of this mafia was uncovered during the investigation being conducted of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Order concerning the 530 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, that was snuck into the country by Chinese national Willy Ong who was found possessing illegally acquired legitimate Philippine passport and driving license.