MANILA, Philippines— A Chinese national was arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives from Region 7 for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Filipino.

In a report Sunday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the arrested individual as 32-year-old Wang Chaoxin, who was reportedly managing a trading company and presenting himself as a Filipino.

Wang was apprehended alongside four others who were found to have violated the conditions of their stay in the country. 

Three of them held working visas but were found employed in a company other than their declared petitioner, while one was working without a permit.

The joint operation was carried out in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Bureau of Investigation from Cebu and Manila.

Viado said the mission order for Wang’s arrest was issued after military intelligence operatives reported that he was using a fake identity. 

Wang allegedly obtained a Philippine driver’s license, a birth certificate, and registered his company under his assumed Filipino name.