THE Bureau of Immigration has placed in its alert list the two Chinese men arrested for operating a clandestine hospital in Pampanga that allegedly catered to Chinese and other foreigners afflicted with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Liu Wei and Hu Shiling, who were arrested on May 19, have been included in the alert list to stop them from leaving the country while they are still being investigated for operating an underground clinic inside the Fontana Leisure Park in Pampanga.
The two foreigners were released the same day that they were arrested without charges being filed against them.
“We have placed them on our alert list to prevent them from leaving the country and ensure their presence while they are undergoing criminal and administrative investigation for alleged offenses,” Morente said.
“If encountered at the airport, they will not be cleared for departure and will instead be referred to the BI intelligence and legal divisions for investigation,” he added.
Morente said BI intelligence operatives are also working to locate the four Chinese who reportedly underwent treatment at the said illegal facility before it was raided.
“Even if no criminal charges were filed against them, they can be charged for immigration law violations if we can establish that they violated the conditions of their stay in the country,” he said.
Morente said he has likewise asked the BI’s intelligence division to check the records of the two Chinese doctors who were arrested in Makati City last Tuesday for operating an illegal clinic allegedly treating Chinese and other foreign nationals infected with COVID-19.
BI intelligence division head Fortunato Manahan Jr. said they are working to ascertain the true identities of the two Chinese doctors and their visa status.
ILLEGAL CLINICS
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra asked the National Bureau of Investigation and the BI to help the police in locating clandestine clinics that cater to sick foreign nationals.
“It seems that clandestine medical clinics catering mostly to foreign nationals have sprouted and have been operating without proper authority. Considering that that they are not being supervised by the government, it is possible that the health of people who seek treatment in these illegal facilities are being compromised,” Guevarra said.
“I will therefore ask the NBI and the BI to help the police in locating similar underground clinics and the people running them, and if warranted, to file the appropriate charges against them,” he added.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros pressed authorities to deport and blacklist all foreigners behind the operation of illegal medical clinics in the country.
“While we are working hard to protect our people from the virus, these criminals freely roam and pose danger to public health. This blatant disregard of our laws should merit immediate deportation and blacklisting. This is an insult to our laws, insult to every Filipino who follow the quarantine measures,” Hontiveros said.
She noted recent raids made by police operatives on various establishments in Parañaque City, Pampanga, and Makati City which were found to be illegally operating as hospitals and pharmacies primarily catering to employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and Chinese.
Hontiveros said underground and unlicensed medical facilities pose a danger to public health “They have zero regulation and can be a source of community transmission. We will be putting communities at risk and waste our quarantine efforts because of these medical facilities,” she said. — With Raymond Africa
