Pastor Jeremy Keith Ferguson, New Life Baptist Church of Mexico, Pampanga Inc. founder, is now under the Bureau of Immigration’s watchlist, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Megan Manahan, DSWD Standards Bureau director, said Ferguson cannot leave the country under the BI’s custody to ensure he could not leave the Philippines and that he would attend all court hearings on the child abuse charges filed against him.
“So this means that we are certain he is here in the Philippines to face what he needs to face regarding the abuses he committed,” Manahan said.
The immigration bureau had issued a commitment order last week for the transfer of Ferguson to its warden facility in Bicutan, Taguig City on the request of Pampanga police for assistance in handling the American national’s custody.
The DSWD said it has also issued a cease-and-desist order against Ferguson after discovering alleged abuses committed against minors under his facility’s care, along with its “failure to comply with standards that ensure the proper protection of children-residents.”
On Aug. 13, authorities nabbed Ferguson for two counts of violation of Section 10 (a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
A ₱160,000 bail each was recommended for two counts of sexual abuse.
“He is technically eligible for bail but because he also has an immigration charge, he cannot be released. He will be committed to the Bureau of Immigration,” Manahan said.
