BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers barred from entering the Philippines two Americans who have been convicted as sex offenders in the United States.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the excluded passengers as Jeremy Paul Beazer and Michael Antonio Rios. The two were turned back upon arrival at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga on board separate flights of the Eva Air from Taipei.
Viado said Beazer and Rios were denied entry pursuant to a provision in the Immigration Law which bars aliens convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.
Our intention here is to prevent these convicted sexual predators from preying on our women and children, anyone of whom could be their next victim if we allow them to enter our country,” Viado stressed.
Records showed that in 2001, a US court convicted Beazer for the crime of having sex with a 12-year-old girl.
On the other hand, Nicaragua-born Rios, was likewise convicted in 1989 for sexual assault on a minor.
Both Americans were immediately booked on the first available flight back to their port of origin.
They were subsequently placed in the Immigration blacklist, effectively banning them from re-entering the Philippines.