The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested an alleged American pedophile wanted by authorities in Wisconsin for sexually molesting a child nearly two decades ago.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the fugitive as Francisco Gomez, 62, who was arrested in Ermita, Manila last Feb. 9 by operatives from the bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).
Tansingco said he issued a mission order for the American’s arrest at the request of the US authorities in Manila which sought the BI’s help in locating and deporting the sex offender.
“We will deport him as soon the BI board of commissioners issues the order for his summary deportation after which he will be blacklisted and banned from re-entering the country,” Tansingco added.
He stressed that Gomez’ continued presence here poses a threat to Filipinos.
BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy said Gomez is wanted to stand trial before a circuit court in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which issued a warrant for his arrest on Feb. 26, 2003 after he was charged with sexual assault of a child.
He, however, eluded arrest and fled to the Philippines in October 2006 and never left the country since then.
Sy said Gomez is already an undocumented alien due to the cancellation of his US passport by the State department.
He is currently held at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.