THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested five fugitives, including one of America's most wanted criminals, after months of surveillance in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison identified the arrested suspects as Elbert Kyung Ma alias Andrew Lee, Jeffrey Louis Ochs, Charlie Alog, Michael Robert Cronin and Danielle Nopuente.
Ma, 32, who was convicted by an American court for manslaughter, was arrested in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City by BI intelligence operatives. He arrived in the country on July 2011 on a tourist visa, and failed to secure an extended stay for 22 months.
The United States Embassy in Manila informed the bureau that Ma's US passport has been revoked by the State Department and warned that the American poses risk to public safety and interest.
During the arrest, BI agents confiscated various identification cards from Ma, including alien certificate of registration, professional driver's license, and an ID as regional manager for a company in Makati City.
Mison has placed Ma on BI's blacklist and is facing deportation.
On the other hand, Ochs alias Jeffrey Stokes, 54, is wanted for identity fraud and was apprehended last June 20 in Dasmariñas, Cavite, by joint teams from BI and US Embassy.
Lawyer Jose Carlito Licas, acting BI intelligence chief, said the American is now detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig City.
Meanwhile, the 62-year-old Alog, is wanted for rape and sexual assault and was arrested last June 19 in Umingan, Pangasinan. He was immediately deported back to the US the following day.
On the other hand, Cronin, 31, alias Michael Robert Cronin was caught in Dasmariñas, Cavite City after two weeks of surveillance. He is wanted for a burglary and is subject for summary deportation.
Lucas said that Nopuente, with aliases Isabelita Nopuente and Danielle Parker, was arrested by operatives in Tagaytay City last June 4. She is wanted for multiple counts of theft and fraud.
The foreigner who is reportedly a big-time businesswoman and resident of plush subdivision in Muntinlupa failed to present any valid travel documents and is now subject of summary deportation. (FP/Sunnex)