Photo credit: BI

Last June 28, Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents apprehended four Indian men suspected of illegal entry into the Philippines. The operation was carried out following reports from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Tawi-Tawi, who observed the Indians aboard a vessel. Identified as Lakhwinder Singh Brar (30), Parwinder Singh (21), Sukhraj Singh Dubb (32), and Jagjit Chohan (36), the men were found without immigration stamps upon the vessel's arrival in Bongao.

Additionally, Malaysian national Bryan Joel Ng (25), traveling with a Filipina companion, was detained after failing to produce his passport during initial questioning by the PCG. Ng is under suspicion of involvement in trafficking.

The BI agents, armed with a mission order from Commissioner Norman Tansingco and in coordination with several law enforcement agencies, conducted the arrests. Investigations revealed that the four Indians were blacklisted from the Philippines, attempting illegal entry to evade immigration scrutiny.

Commissioner Tansingco emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in safeguarding the country's borders against illegal entrants, underscoring the critical partnership between the PCG and BI in thwarting such attempts.