5 foreigners nabbed in Zamboanga City for illegal entry

The Philippine Coast Guard arrested five foreigners in Zamboanga City for illegally entering the country, it was reported on Thursday.

According to a statement, Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao successfully apprehended four Indians and a Malaysian who allegedly entered via the country’s “back door” from Malaysia to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi via speed boat, on Wednesday.

The five men reportedly transferred to commercial passenger cargo vessel M/V TRISHA KERSTIN 2 to Zamboanga City before they were intercepted by authorities.

Based on records from the Bureau of Immigration, the four Indians were blacklisted in 2004, July 2016, May 2024 and June 2024.

The five foreigners are currently detained at the Bureau of Immigration in Zamboanga City and will face charges for violating the Philippine Immigration Act. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News