BI arrests American wanted for rape

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested an American who had been hiding in the country for more than three years to escape rape charges in the United States.

Teodoro Lumaban Jr. was arrested on Wednesday near the US Embassy in Manila by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU), Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Thursday.

Lumaban, 53, was about to renew his US passport at the embassy when he was apprehended by Immigration agents who were armed with a warrant of deportation signed by Morente.

The BI said Lumaban's American passport was already canceled by the US government and that he was ordered expelled for posing a risk to public safety and security due to his being a fugitive from justice.

Lumaban is facing charges before the US district court in Virginia for sexually assaulting a minor.

"No other details were provided by the embassy about the rape victim or when or where he committed his alleged crime," the BI said.

Bobby Raquepo, BI-FSU acting head, said Lumaban was unaware that his passport was canceled by the embassy, which sought the arrest.

It was also the embassy which tipped off the BI operatives about Lumaban's passport appointment. 

Lumaban is currently detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City with US federal agents expected to fetch and escort him back to the US.

The BI said Lumaban’s name was already placed on the BI blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the country. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ/KVD, GMA News