The Department of Justice (DOJ) is gathering data on Chinese nationals arrested during operations against scam hubs in the Philippines, including those who may have entered the country under visa-free arrangements or overstayed their authorized period of stay.
During a press conference, DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said the department has yet to determine the exact number or percentage of individuals involved in scam hub operations who entered the country through visa-free entry or remained in the Philippines beyond their permitted stay.
“We don't have the exact data now. I'm still collating that exact data on how many percent of them are actually available through these channels,” Ty said.
He noted that some Chinese nationals found in scam hubs had entered the Philippines through visa-related arrangements, while others were reportedly overstaying.
Ty also said there could be several reasons why Chinese nationals and individuals from other countries become involved in scam operations, including the possibility that they are specifically targeted for recruitment.
“It's hard to think of one specific reason why mostly Chinese and other countries can be involved,” he said, adding that authorities were still examining the circumstances surrounding the individuals apprehended.
The DOJ official stressed that the data-gathering effort remains ongoing as the department seeks to establish how those involved in scam hub operations entered and stayed in the country.
The findings could help authorities better understand the immigration circumstances of foreign nationals implicated in such activities and identify potential gaps in monitoring and enforcement.
