Manila, May 19 -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to file deportation cases against the nine foreign nationals arrested at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport days before the May 12 elections.

In a statement on Monday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that aside from possible criminal and anti-money laundering charges that the group will face in local courts, they will also face immigration proceedings for undesirability.

"Immigration laws prohibit foreigners from engaging in activities that pose risks to national security," Viado said.

"Once they face their criminal charges, these individuals will be deported and blacklisted from re-entering the Philippines."

The foreigners -seven Chinese nationals, one Indonesian, and...