Philippine Immigration

An overstaying Japanese tourist is now behind bars and facing deportation after he was arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives for working in the country without a permit.

Arrested last Wednesday on the strength of a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan was Masaaki Hashimoto, 40, who is presently detained at the Bicutan immigration jail. Libanan said Hashimoto, who was arrested in his workplace at the 7th floor of the Magsaysay Bldg. along Roxas Blvd., Manila, is undergoing deportation proceedings for overstaying and illegally working in the country.

“He violated the conditions of his stay by not extending his tourist visa for more than three years and for engaging in gainful employment without the required work permit and visa,” Libanan said.

The immigration act forbids foreigners from working here without first securing a work permit from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and a pre-arranged employment visa from the BI.

Libanan said illegally working foreigners prejudices the interest of Filipino workers who are equally qualified for the jobs performed by said foreigners.

BI-law enforcement division acting chief Wilfredo Poquez disclosed that Hashimoto worked as a business development officer for the Atlantic Globe Movers Inc.,

He said the arresting agents caught the Japanese in the act of performing his job while seated at his office desk.

“We also seized several documents proving that he is indeed in the company’s employ as its business development officer,” Poquez added.

A check of the BI’s travel information records also showed that the Hashimoto’s tourist visa expired on July 21, 2005 and he never bothered to extend or update his stay in the country. (BI News)