Local News

Declared persona non grata in Cebu, Dutchman to be deported soon

Keith A. Calayag

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will soon deport a Dutch national, who has been declared a persona non grata by at least two local government councils in Cebu for being an undesirable alien.

Niklaas Vondeling, 61, was arrested by the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in his house in Barangay Eastern Poblacion, Poro, Camotes Islands in Cebu last April 4.

According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, Vondeling was arrested on the strength of a warrant of deportation issued against him by the BI last September 2015.

Morente said the issuance of the arrest order was prompted by the resolution penned by San Fransisco, Cebu municipal council and Barangay Poblacion council dated July 2014, declaring the Dutchman a persona non grata and recommending his deportation.

Both resolutions, which stated that the Dutchman is “inimical to public order, safety and morals,” stemmed from his failure to secure building permits for the two resorts that he was constructing in San Francisco town.

The foreign national was also charged with grave oral defamation after having a heated altercation with local officials over the building permits.

According to BI intelligence officer and FSU chief Bobby Raquepo, Vondeling sought the reconsideration of the arrest order against him.

But the BI Board denied his plea.

On November 17, 2016, the BI Board of Commissioners passed a resolution affirming the deportation order against the Dutchman.

Raquepo said Vondeling has been staying in the country for a long time and there is no way that he could apply for an extension due to his inclusion in the Immigration blacklist.

Morente said that: “Foreigners like him who refuse to comply with our laws and who openly manifest disrespect to persons of authority do not deserve the privilege to stay in our country."

The BI Board of Commissioners is now processing the summary deportation order against Vondeling. (SunStar Philippines)

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