MANILA—Four Vietnamese nationals were prevented from entering the Philippines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after immigration authorities identified discrepancies in their stated reasons for travel, suspecting them of attempting to work illegally in the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, the individuals—three males and one female—were intercepted at NAIA Terminal 1 on Monday. The males, identified as Truong Quang Than, 28; Bui Van Chi, 36; Ngo Dan Tuong, 22; and the female, Nguyen Hoang Minh Huy, 19, arrived on a Philippine Airlines flight from Hanoi and initially claimed to be tourists revisiting the country.
However, during a secondary inspection, the four provided inconsistent statements and were found to have previously stayed in the Philippines for periods extending up to seven months. One of the individuals later confessed to having worked in a catering business during a prior visit without the appropriate work visa. “Our country is a no-go zone for those who use tourism as a cover for such schemes. Aliens who attempt to enter to abuse the country’s hospitality will be denied entry,” stated Tansingco.
Following this incident, the four Vietnamese nationals have been placed on the BI’s blacklist, which permanently bars them from re-entering the Philippines.