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A 53-year old Australian is now facing deportation proceedings after
he was arrested in Davao City for illegally operating a furniture
shop, the Bureau of Immigration said Friday.
The Australian, 53-year old Jonathan Bentley
Stevens, is now detained at the immigration detention center in
Bicutan, Taguig City following his recent arrest at Davao City, the
bureau said in a statement.
Acting Immigration Commissioner Roy Almoro said
that besides working without the required visa, Stevens was
discovered to be overstaying in the country for more than two years.
“He will thus be deported for overstaying and
working here without a permit,” Almoro said, adding that the two
offenses committed by the Australian are punishable with summary
deportation.
The bureau’s statement said that Stevens’s
investor visa that was issued to him two years ago had expired
already, and he was operating a furniture shop without the required
papers.
The Australian’s arrest came after the
immigration bureau received information that he was engaged in
“gainful activity” in Davao City without any work permit or
visa.
“The bureau cannot allow these illegal working
aliens to trample with our immigration laws to the prejudice of our
fellow Filipinos. The bureau’s long arm will surely catch them,”
Almoro said.
Bureau Spokesman, Lawyer Floro Balato, said
Stevens was apprehended by immigration agents on the strength of a
mission order last April 11, at his furniture shop in Brgy. Ilang,
Tibungco, Davao City.
During investigation, Balato said the Australian
admitted that he is employed as chairman, chief executive office and
corporate secretary of the Bentley House Furniture Company.
Stevens, who is detained at the Immigration
detention center, will be included in the list of blacklisted
foreigners and will be banned from re-entering the country for being
an undesirable alien.
-- Anthony Vargas
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