The Bureau of Immigration on Monday sait that it would deport an overstaying Pakistani national recently arrested by the police in Palawan for alleged possession of guns and explosives.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered the BI Legal Division to file deportation charges against Haroon Bashir, who was arrested at his residence along Atis Road, Dacillo Compound, Bgy. San Jose, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Morente said that the Pakistani, who is suspected to be a bombmaker, will undergo deportation proceedings for overstaying and being an undocumented alien.
“A check of his travel record in our database showed that he arrived in the Philippines on 28 April 2013, and that he never left
the country since then,” Morente said.
He added that aside from overstaying here for more than seven years, Bashir also failed to present his passport or any travel document, thus he is also an undocumented alien.”
The regional office of the Philippine National Police in MIMAROPA Region said it is still investigating his possible involvement with local terrorist groups.
But Morente explained that even if the BI orders Bashir’s summary deportation, he will not be deported yet as he is facing criminal charges for possession of deadly weapons which could land him in jail if he is convicted by the court.
“It is only after he has served his sentence that we can deport him,” the BI Chief said. “He will then be blacklisted and banned from reentering the country.”
The arresting operatives, who were armed with a search warrant, reported that they found inside Bashir’s house a caliber .45 pistol and two improvised explosive devices which they immediately detonated after the raid.