3 Chinese in black sand mining barred from leaving

Three Chinese nationals, accused of illegally mining black sand in Ilocos Sur, were prevented from leaving the country by the Bureau of Immigration over a week ago, an official said.

Cheng Jianping, Yang Qingnan and Lin Shisheng were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as they were about to leave for Hong Kong last Sept. 15, according to BI officer-in-charge Siegfred Mison.

The BI said the arrest of the three was in compliance with a watchlist order issued by the BI board of commissioners.

The order stemmed from a deportation case filed against the three Chinese, who were among 16 people charged for illegal black sand mining in Ilocos Sur.