The Bureau of Immigration has ordered the deportation of a convicted British pedophile wanted by authorities in the United Kingdom.
“‹Ordered deported was Leslie Charles Russon who was arrested in Sitio Campaog, Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando, Cebu by operatives from the bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit.
“‹“Russon is a registered sex offender who was obliged by the court to periodically notify authorities about his location and address,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.
However, the Briton stopped complying with these requirements in September 2015 when he fled to the Philippines, and did not return to the UK since then.
“‹“We will deport him for posing a risk to Filipino children, whom he might victimize while he continues to remain in the country,” the BI chief said.
Morente added that officials from UK’s National Crime Agency, which sought Russon’s deportation, had warned that the Briton had no intention of returning to the kingdom, thus his continued presence here posed a risk to children.
“‹According to BI intelligence officer and FSU chief Bobby Raquepo, a UK court Russon convicted and sentenced him to seven years in prison in 1993 for molesting three boys who were under 16 years of age.
“‹Raquepo said the Briton frequently traveled back and forth to the Philippines after serving his sentence.
“‹“When he is in the UK, he would register and report his presence to the authorities, but he would travel back to the Philippines afterwards,” Raquepo said.