The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday reported the arrest of a Chinese national for alleged identity theft and overstaying during a raid on a condominium unit in Parañaque City.

Operatives from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), in coordination with the Parañaque City Police Intelligence Section and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), carried out the enforcement operation on 16 February at a residential unit in Barangay Tambo.

Authorities arrested Fang Li, 36, a Chinese national, following intelligence reports that she had been engaging in illicit activities and was allegedly using the identity of another Chinese citizen.

Immigration records showed that Fang last entered the Philippines in 2022 as a temporary visitor but failed to apply for any visa extension or conversion. She has since been classified as an overstaying alien.

During the operation, agents also encountered two other Chinese nationals identified as Chen Youliang, 38, and Xu Yuxiang, 39.

febXu, meanwhile, was found to be overstaying, as her last recorded visa extension expired in 2020.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized that the bureau will not tolerate attempts by foreign nationals to evade immigration laws by using false identities.

“Foreign nationals who attempt to circumvent our laws through aliases, fraudulent identities, or expired visas will be apprehended and deported,” Viado said. 

“We remain steadfast in ensuring that those engaged in illegal activities are removed from the country," he added. 

The arrested individuals are currently detained at the BI Warden Facility pending deportation proceedings.