7 American sex offenders barred from entering PH in January - BI

Seven American sex offenders were prevented from entering the Philippines in January, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Thursday.

The BI said six of the Americans were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), while one was blocked at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

On January 6, a 30-year-old American was intercepted at NAIA. He was convicted in 2014 for possession and control of obscene materials depicting a minor in sexual conduct.

A 56-year-old American was also denied entry on January 14. He was convicted in 2002 for sexually molesting a teenager.

Convicted in 2014 for sexually abusing a minor, the BI prevented a 33-year-old American from entering the Philippines on January 14.

The BI intercepted a 69-year-old American, who was convicted of criminal sexual conduct in Wisconsin in 1999, on January 15.

Convicted in 2018 for possessing sexually abusive material involving children, a 71-year-old American was turned away at NAIA on January 18.

On the same day, a 60-year-old American was blocked at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. He was convicted in 2000 for child molestation involving a six-year-old child.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the Americans were denied entry due to a provision in the Immigration Act, which prohibits the entry of foreigners who have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.

According to Ferdinand Tendenilla, BI border control and intelligence unit chief, all seven Americans were sent back to their port of origin a day after they were intercepted. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/VBL, GMA Integrated News