from PhilStar.Com (August 8, 2002, 5:13:57 PM)
Lotus
Eaters Band, Chinese Acrobats Fined For Working Without Permits
The
Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) slapped today a fine
of
almost half a million pesos on 24 foreign entertainers for
performing
in the country without the required working visa.
Immigration
Commissioner Andrea Domingo imposed the fine on two
British
musicians and 22 Chinese acrobats after it was confirmed that
they
had performed in public without waiting for the approval of
their
applications for special work permits by the bureau.
Domingo
said the fines were imposed in line with the bureau's thrust
to
strictly enforce the law prohibiting aliens, including
entertainers
and artists, from engaging in gainful employment in the
country
without permission from the bureau.
The
immigration chief explained that the regulation is in accordance
with
the bureau's mandate to protect the interest of Filipino
workers,
including local entertainers, from being robbed of their
livelihood
opportunities due to the onslaught of foreign competitors.
Domingo
also said that the bureau is monitoring every foreign
entertainer
who comes and performs in the country to check if he or
she
has a working permit.
Those
who were iposed a fine of 25,000 each were Britons Peter
Anthony
Coyle and Jeremy Vincent Kelly of the musical band Lotus
Eaters
while all 22 Chinese members of the Changehun Acrobatics
Troupe
from Beijing, China were fined 20,000 each.
The
two Britons paid their fine and were issued working permits while
the
Chinese acrobats were warned that they would be arrested if they
failed
to pay the fine.