Alleged Swiss sex tourist nabbed at NAIA

A Swiss citizen was arrested by authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City for his alleged involvement in sex crimes against children, the  Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Sunday.

The 66-year-old man was stopped by immigration officers at NAIA Terminal 1 on September 29 while he was attempting to board a flight for Bangkok, Thailand.

He was later arrested by the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) after the bureau received confirmation of his previous sex-related crimes. Records showed the suspect is a sex offender with two prior convictions in Switzerland in 2017 and 2021 for offenses related to the possession and distribution of child pornography.

In 2024, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland initiated further criminal proceedings concerning new allegations of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. However, the accused fled the country while the proceedings were still ongoing.

The Swiss man has stayed in the Philippines for more than 3 weeks, and is suspected to be visiting Southeast Asian countries in search of more victims, the BI said.

He will be held in the BI warden’s facility pending deportation. Once deported, his name will be included in the BI blacklist, perpetually banning him from re-entering the country. —RF, GMA Integrated News