Post by : Shakul

Iligan City, Philippines — Two Chinese nationals were arrested on March 4, 2026 in Barangay Mahayahay, Iligan City, for posing as Filipino citizens and using fraudulent identities to live and work in the Philippines for nearly 20 years, authorities confirmed. The arrests were made during a coordinated law enforcement operation involving the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI), Iligan City Police, and military units under the 1st Infantry Division.

The suspects were identified as Boagui Xu, also known as Stanny Co, 51, and Lizun Cai, also known as Mia Co, 50, both Chinese nationals who had been engaged in business activities while using fake Filipino names and documentation. Military officers said the suspects had Filipino aliases on official documents, including public identification records.

Investigators discovered that one of the suspects had even obtained a late-registered Filipino birth certificate and a Philippine driver’s license under an assumed identity. Both were found in possession of Philippine driver’s licenses issued under their respective aliases. The fraudulent identification facilitated their long-term residence and operations in the country without detection.

After their arrest, the two were brought to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade headquarters in Iligan City for processing and disposition by Bureau of Immigration personnel. No further details on charges or detention length were immediately disclosed, pending formal immigration and legal proceedings.

The operation highlights the inter-agency cooperation between the Bureau of Immigration, local police, and military forces aimed at combating illegal residency and identity fraud. Authorities reiterated their commitment to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring national security.

These arrests follow a similar operation earlier in the week in nearby Zamboanga del Norte, where two other Chinese nationals were detained on allegations of unauthorized gold processing in Sibutad.

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration has been actively targeting illegal foreign nationals using fake documents, signaling heightened enforcement measures across key regions.

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