Ninety-nine Chinese nationals who were among the more than 1,300 arrested in Clark, Pampanga, last week were confirmed to have stayed beyond their authorized period of stay in the country.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the 99 Chinese were overstaying in the Philippines. It is still verifying and validating the immigration status of the rest of the 1,316 aliens.

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“Those overstaying have been consequently charged. The validation of the immigration status is taking time because of the sheer number,” said BI spokesperson Tonette Mangrobang.

None of the 1,316 Chinese arrested last Thursday have been released as they were still undergoing investigation by the BI’s legal division.

It may be recalled that the BI carried out the operation at a call center-like facility at the Fontana Leisure Park based on a directive from the Department of Justice.

It was the biggest single arrest of suspected illegal aliens that the BI has made. The raid was carried out based on information that there were Chinese nationals illegally working there.

The BI initially apprehended 1,269 Chinese nationals, but the number went up to 1,316 foreigners following the arrest of others who initially tried to escape.

The BI’s statement was contrary to the claims of the Mabalacat City police, which said none of the Chinese nationals rounded up last week were illegally staying in the country.

Mabalacat City police chief, Supt. Juritz Rara, was quoted as claiming that only 912 Chinese were rounded up and that all of them showed documents proving their legal stay in the Philippines.

Mangrobang explained that the 1,316 Chinese underwent inquest proceedings, with 99 verified so far to be overstaying in the country.

The BI is still verifying and validating the immigration status of the others.

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The BI spokesperson said the exact nature of their work was still being investigated.

“We still are matching the identities of the subjects with the passports and verifying their immigration status,” Mangrobang said.

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