Four Indian men and a Malaysian national blacklisted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) were arrested in Tawi-Tawi.
According to the BI, it is recommended that the five be charged with illegal entry, which is a violation of Section 37 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.
The agency added that members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that they were guarding four men aboard a ship. They also met a Malaysian man who was allegedly traveling with his Filipina girlfriend.
Meanwhile, the BI also found out that the Indian nationals did not have Immigration stamps in their passports while the Malaysian national could not show his passport.
While the authorities learned that the four Indian nationals were blacklisted from the country.
The Malaysian national is also suspected of being involved in trafficking.