The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced Sunday the arrest of five foreigners in separate operations in Pangasinan and Ifugao for overstaying in the country.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado revealed that the undocumented aliens were tracked down and apprehended by the BI Intelligence Division and its regional units in coordination with law enforcement agencies.

“The Philippines is not a haven for undocumented and abusive foreign nationals,” Viado said. “Those who disrespect our laws and overstay without proper documentation will be arrested, deported and blacklisted.”

The first arrest occurred in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, where BI operatives from the Regional Intelligence Operations Unit 1, along with the Philippine National Police Region 1, PNP Dagupan Provincial Police Office, and the Dagupan City SWAT team, apprehended a 34-year-old Nigerian man. He was found to be undocumented and in possession of an expired passport.

During transport to the BI main office for processing, the Nigerian man allegedly became violent and head-butted two immigration personnel, including a nurse conducting medical checks.

In a separate operation on 28 April in Lagawe, Ifugao, BI agents arrested four Chinese citizens.

A 53-year-old Chinese man was apprehended at the Ibulao Hydro Power Plant for overstaying and working without a permit. Two other Chinese men accompanying him also failed to present valid passports or immigration documents. All three were found working at the facility as engineers and supervisors without the required permits.

In a related operation in Lagawe on the same day, authorities arrested a 30-year-old Chinese woman, the wife of one of the men arrested earlier.