The Bureau of Immigration (BI) barred last month the entry of seven Americans convicted for sexual offenses in the United States.
The prohibition formed part of the government’s continuing drive to protect Filipino children and ensure that foreign criminals, especially those with a history of sexual offenses, are prevented from entering the Philippines.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said six of the Americans were interdicted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while one was intercepted at the Mactan airport in Cebu.
They were denied entry by Immigration officers upon discovery that they are “among the thousands of registered sex offenders (RSOs) who are in our database,” said Viado.
He added that the aliens were excluded pursuant to a provision in the Immigration Act which prohibits the entry of foreigners who have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.
All seven Americans were sent back to their port of origin a day following their apprehensions.
The BI said that these exclusions were part of its ShieldKids Program, an initiative meant to safeguard Filipino children from exploitation and abuse by foreign predators.
Under the program, the BI works closely with local and international law enforcement agencies to monitor and prevent the entry of convicted sex offenders and other individuals who pose a threat to child safety.
The initiative reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to protecting its youth and ensuring a safe environment free from those who seek to exploit them, Viado said.
