Authorities have arrested five foreigners in Zamboanga City on Thursday, June 27, 2024 for allegedly entering the Philippines illegally.

Members of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, Bureau of Immigration (BI), and PNP-Maritime Group arrested a Malaysian national and four Indian nationals who allegedly entered the country without proper immigration clearance.

They were found to have entered the country via a “back door” route from Malaysia to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on board a speedboat. They then transferred to a commercial passenger-cargo vessel bound for Zamboanga City.

The four Indian nationals are reportedly in the watchlist of blacklisted nationals in 2004, 2016, and 2024, according to BI’s Intelligence Unit.

The five were taken into custody by the BI-Zamboanga City and will face charges for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act.