4 foreign sex offenders blocked from entering PH – BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has recently blocked the entry of four foreigners with convictions for sex crimes as part of its #ShieldKids campaign.

The BI’s implementation of the exclusion orders against the registered sex offenders were carried out from October 26 to November 4 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Clark International Airport (CIA), and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stressed that the BI has a zero-tolerance stance against foreign sex offenders attempting to enter the country.

“The Philippines will never be a safe haven for convicted predators. Our airports serve as the first line of defense in protecting our children, and we will continue to strengthen border security through the #ShieldKids campaign,” he said.

He added that the BI is working closely with international law enforcement agencies and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) in monitoring and intercepting foreign nationals with criminal backgrounds.

“We are committed to ensuring that those with a history of preying on minors are stopped at the gates. This is part of our collective effort to keep communities safe and uphold the integrity of our borders,” Viado said.

On October 26, a 56-year-old American national was denied entry upon his arrival at the CIA aboard a Starlux Airlines flight from Taipei City.

Records showed that the American national was convicted in 1996 in the United States for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old and was sentenced to one year of confinement and five years of probation.

On the same day, a 34-year-old New Zealand national was also denied entry at the NAIA Terminal 3 upon his arrival onboard a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong.

Information from the PCTC revealed that the New Zealand national was previously convicted of a sex crime in his home country for allegedly sending sexually explicit photographs to 14-year-old boys.

The foreigner, a former football coach, entered a plea of guilty to charges related to the possession and distribution of objectionable material.

On October 30, a 77-year-old Canadian national was denied entry at the MCIA after records showed that he was convicted in 2018 of child pornography-related offenses and conspiracy to commit a sexual offense against a person under 18 years of age.

On November 4, a 69-year-old American national was also blocked from entering the country at the NAIA Terminal 1 after authorities found that he was convicted in 2008 for committing a criminal sexual act in the third degree involving a 15-year-old victim.

All four registered sex offenders were immediately placed on the BI’s blacklist to permanently prevent them from reentering the country. — JMA, GMA Integrated News