The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Sunday that three foreign nationals were arrested on Valentine’s Day after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) revealed their connection to illicit online gambling.

According to Fortunato Manahan Jr., chief of the BI Intelligence Division, three Chinese nationals were arrested in Barangay Milagrosa, Calamba, Laguna, after the PAOCC reported they were engaged in prostitution and online gambling in their building.

Manahan said that verification revealed that two suspects were in the country on tourist visas but failed to present the required documentation, while one had a working visa for a Makati-based company.

“The BI remains dedicated to bolstering border security and targeting foreign nationals who abuse their presence in the country,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.

“This operation demonstrates our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and assisting the government in its fight against organized crime.”

The operation was conducted in cooperation with the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

All three suspects will remain in PAOCC custody while awaiting deportation proceedings.