By Ariel Fernandez
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a British national wanted in the United Kingdom for pedophilia, and an American sex offender from New York.
William James Neville Ireland, 68, was taken into BI custody after he was arrested Wednesday (August 14) in Lubao Pampanga by operatives of the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Ireland was on the most wanted list of UK’s National Crime Agency for engaging in sexual acts with a child in his home in Northern Ireland in 1996. He was reportedly charged with seven counts of indecent assault of a female, and two counts of gross indecency with a child.
FSU operatives also nabbed, Friday, Shane Edward Scism, 45, in Marikina City for being wanted in New York for his failure to register as a sex offender. The Correction Law of the State of New York requires sex offenders to register any change of address, internet accounts, internet profiles and status at any residence or educational institution. A warrant for his arrest was issued in the State of New York last July 30.
“We will immediately deport them as their continued stay in the country poses a serious threat to our women and children. Both are undesirable aliens who must be expelled from our country without delay,” said FSU chief Bobby Raquepo.
He said the two foreigners will also be placed in the BI blacklist, and banned from re-entering the country.
Raquepo said Ireland has been hiding in the Philippines since Oct. 1, 2013 when he arrived here as a tourist. It was learned that he fled the UK to evade questioning by police on a complaint of historical sexual abuse that was filed against him.
“He was invited to appear for interview by the UK police that was scheduled on the same day he arrived in Manila,” Raquepo said.
Ireland became the subject of an Interpol red notice that was issued last Aug. 5 after UK authorities found that he had fled to the Philippines.
On the other hand, Scism arrived in the country in December 2017. “He seems to have planned to relocate in the country for good in an effort to escape his liabilities in his country,” said Raquepo.
Raquepo added that Scism’s passport is already “in the process of being revoked by the US authorities.”
Both are temporarily detained at the BI’s detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig