BI nabs Malaysian for entering PH illegally

A Malaysian man was recently arrested in Zamboanga City after he allegedly entered the Philippines illegally.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended Hii Kien Tong, 32, at the Zamboanga International Seaport while attempting to board a vessel bound for Sandakan, Malaysia, on October 16.

According to the BI, Hii was suspected to have entered the Philippines illegally, as he was included in the immigration blacklist in December 2022 for allegedly working in an illegal online gaming hub with a canceled license to operate. No immigration arrival stamp was found on his passport. 

Immigration officials said the Malaysian passenger was previously barred from entering the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in December 2023 for being blacklisted.

“We suspect that despite his being barred from entering the country last year, he managed to re-enter the country illegally,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said. 

Hii is currently at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, while waiting for deportation.— Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA Integrated News