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John Unson - Philstar.com
April 23, 2026 | 7:53pm
The regional office of the Bureau of Immigration in Region 11 is now in custody of the 20 Chinese nationals arrested in separate operations by its agents and Army personnel in Tagum City and in Davao de Oro province on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Philstar.com / John Unson
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Agents of the Bureau of Immigration 11 and troops from the Army’s 10th Infantry Division nabbed 20 Chinese nationals, reportedly involved in illegal copper and gold mining activities, in separate operations in two areas in Region 11 on Wednesday, April 22.
Radio reports on Thursday morning stated that the foreigners were arrested by BI-11 agents and personnel of different units of the 10th ID in separate raids in illegal mining sites in Apokon in Tagum City, the capital of Davao del Norte, and in Pantukan town in Davao de Oro.
The 10th ID’s Division Public Affairs Office stated in an official report released on Thursday that BI-11 agents and soldiers had confiscated from the 20 Chinese men combat uniforms of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and several bags of ammonium nitrate, used as blasting powder for dynamites for underground mining.
Ammonium nitrate is also widely used as an incendiary component for fishing dynamites and improvised explosive devices.
Major Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 10th ID, had told reporters that the operation that led to the arrest of the 20 Chinese nationals was premised on reports by confidential tipsters about their presence in illegal mining sites in Apokon and in Pantukan, a known mineral-rich town in Davao de Oro.
“The Army team that helped the agents of the Bureau of Immigration carry out the operation had reported to me that all 20 foreigners only had tourist visas besides their passports, a clear indication that they are working in the two areas illegally,” Luzon said.
Luzon said informants had confirmed to the 10th ID that all of the now-detained 20 Chinese nationals were mining for gold and copper in the areas where they were apprehended.
“It is now up to the Bureau of Immigration to take action against them,” Luzon said.
