ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police have detained five Chinese nationals whom they rescued from a speedboat suffering engine trouble in the territorial sea waters of Languyan town in Tawi-Tawi after they were found to have arrest warrants for fraud.

PRO-BAR Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz said yesterday that three of those rescued Chinese nationals were arrested earlier at Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, in connection with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations, while the remaining two faced a warrant for fraud. 

Macapaz said the police in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi rescued on 21 March five Chinese nationals and three Filipinos from a speedboat suffering  engine trouble near the coastal waters of Barangay Sikullis in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi.

They were identified as Chinese nationals Ying Guanzhen, Yang Jinlong, Liu Xin, Shen Kan, Luo Honglin and Filipinos Sibal Akuk Abdurakman, Halipa Pasayan Tanji and Nasher Akbi Awani. 

According to Macapaz, the Bureau of Immigration records revealed that the five Chinese nationals have derogatory records, all about their status as undocumented aliens and violations of immigrant visa terms. Facing outstanding arrest warrants for fraud under procedural law were identified as Liu Xin, Yang Jinlong and Shen Kan.

The Bureau of Immigration disclosed that the foreign nationals had been previously arrested at Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga, in connection with POGO operations.

Macapaz revealed that the speed boat of the five Chinese nationals originated from the port of Parang in Sulu and was en route to Sabah, Malaysia.

The watercraft, powered by a 200-horsepower engine, suffered engine trouble at the territorial sea waters of Barangay Sikullis in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, a reason for the authorities to rescue them to safety. The watercraft was subsequently towed to the shore of Barangay Sikullis.

The rescued individuals were brought to the Languyan Municipal Police Station for documentation before being transported to the PRO-BAR Regional Headquarters located in Camp Brigadier General Salipada K. Pendatun in  Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

The rescued foreign nationals have been placed under the temporary custody of the Parang Municipal Police Station, Maguindanao del Norte PPO, pending turnover to the Fugitive Search Unit of the Bureau of Immigration.