Pasay, Philippines – Four Taiwanese nationals were arrested in Pasay City after Philippine immigration authorities intercepted a yacht and found them allegedly entering the country illegally. Two of the arrested individuals were also found to be wanted in Taiwan for drug-related cases, adding a cross-border law enforcement angle to the operation.
According to a statement from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), published on its official website, the arrests were carried out by the BI Intelligence Division in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard during an operation at a yacht in Island A, Reclamation Area, Pasay City.
Arrest Carried Out in Pasay Reclamation Area
The BI said the enforcement operation stemmed from an intelligence report received by the bureau. Acting on that information, immigration operatives, with support from Coast Guard personnel, moved in on the vessel and arrested four Taiwanese nationals.
Those identified in the report were:
- Hung Pin Sheng, 39
- Weng Pai Chen, 21
- Chen Chin Chih, 22
- Liang Chia Hua, 35
Authorities later verified that all four are Taiwanese citizens.
Two Among Those Arrested Tagged as Fugitives
The BI said records showed that two of the four individuals had standing cases in Taiwan. Weng Pai Chen and Chen Chin Chih were reported to be wanted by the Taiwan Kaohsiung District Court and the Taiwan District Prosecutors Office in connection with drug-related offenses.
Meanwhile, the bureau also reported that Hung Pin Sheng and Liang Chia Hua had prior criminal records in Taiwan.
The four are now being investigated for possible violations of Philippine immigration laws, particularly illegal entry. The BI also noted that the case involves allegations related to fugitives from justice and the harboring of illegal aliens.
Deportation Proceedings Underway
Following their arrest, the four foreign nationals were transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Bicutan, Taguig City. They are set to remain there while deportation proceedings move forward.
The BI said the operation is part of broader efforts to prevent the Philippines from being used as a hiding place by foreign fugitives and transnational crime suspects.
BI Reaffirms Border Security Efforts
In the same statement, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau remains committed to enforcing immigration laws and protecting national security through close coordination with partner agencies.
The latest arrest highlights the government’s continuing push to tighten border monitoring and act on intelligence reports involving foreign nationals with possible criminal links abroad. For overseas Filipinos and families monitoring regional security developments, the case also underscores how Philippine authorities are responding to cross-border enforcement concerns in key entry points around Metro Manila.