Manila, Sept. 25 -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday reported the recent arrest of eight foreigners at a mining site in Isabela.

According to Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, the apprehension of seven Chinese nationals and one Taiwanese national in Sitio Dimakawal, Barangay Bukal Norte, Dinapigue, was in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to intensify the government's crackdown against illegal mining.

The foreigners were arrested on Tuesday for violations of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, for working without a permit or visa, for being undocumented, and for engaging in work outside their petitioning company.

"Illegal mining not only destroys our environment but also deprives our country of val...