In a strong move to protect its citizens, the Philippines barred six American sex offenders from entering the country last month, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The decision was announced by BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, who detailed that five of the individuals were stopped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, while one was intercepted at the Mactan airport in Cebu. These actions were taken after immigration officers identified the individuals as registered sex offenders (RSOs) listed in the BI’s database. Commissioner Viado emphasized that this aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s pledge to safeguard children and prevent foreign criminals, particularly those with sexual offense histories, from entering the Philippines. The offenders were excluded under the country’s immigration laws which prohibit entry to those convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude. All were promptly returned to their points of origin the day following their interception. Among those turned away were Rodrigo Navarro, convicted in 2014 for possessing obscene materials involving a minor; Wayne Mitchell Blakely, convicted in 2002 for molesting a 15-year-old; Raymund Campado Falguera, convicted in 2014 for sexually abusing a minor; Robert William Harper, convicted in 1999 for criminal sexual conduct; David Scott Dennis, convicted in 2000 for five counts of first-degree child molestation involving a 6-year-old; and Joseph Jerome Dumas, convicted in 2018 for possessing sexually abusive material involving children. The BI’s actions are part of its ShieldKids Program, aimed at protecting Filipino children from exploitation and abuse by foreign predators, through collaboration with local and international law enforcement agencies.
Philippines Denies Entry to Six American Sex Offenders in January
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