By Associated Press and Jun Ramirez

More than 1,200 Chinese nationals were arrested by agents of the Bureau of Immigration for allegedly working illegally for a call center-like operation suspected to be a front for online gambling.

“As of 2:00 a.m. today, our immigration unit (has) counted a total of 1,240 Chinese nationals arrested in the operation,” immigration commissioner Jaime Morente disclosed Friday, November 25.

The foreign nationals were arrested at a resort and casino complex in Clark, Pampanga on Thursday.

Morente said documents of the aliens are being checked based on reports that they were working despite only securing tourist visa and without clearance from the Department of Labor and Employment.

“Our immigration officers have started conducting verification of passports of the suspects,” Morente said

Immigration spokeswoman, Antonette Mangrobang said they were still awaiting the results of an investigation by the justice department’s cybercrime unit to see if their employer was running an illegal online gambling site.

The arrested Chinese are temporarily being held under guard by immigration and police personnel in a building within the Fontana Leisure Park.