IMMIGRATION agents have arrested 37 Chinese in Parañaque City for allegedly engaging in illegal retail trade inside an exclusive subdivision.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said on Thursday that of the 37 arrested inside the Multinational Village on June 4, seven were females while the rest were males.

"We received credible information about foreign nationals engaging in illegal retail activities, and our team acted swiftly to address these violations. This operation is part of our ongoing efforts to uphold the integrity of our immigration laws and protect local businesses from unfair competition," Tansingco said.

The 37 arrested Chinese were detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, awaiting deportation. Most of them were classified as overstaying or undocumented.

Tansingco added that the Bureau of Immigration was actively pursuing illegal aliens that use the Philippines as a base for illegal activities, including illegal online gaming, cyber fraud and investment scams.

"The Bureau of Immigration will not tolerate illegal work practices and will continue to take necessary actions against those who violate our laws," he said.