American fugitive arrested in Manila - BI

Authorities arrested an American wanted for a criminal offense in Texas, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday. 

The bureau said the 43-year-old American male was arrested by the BI's fugitive search unit on Thursday on Roxas Boulevard in Ermita, Manila, following a request from the US Embassy to locate him. 

The BI added that the foreign national was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant issued by a US district court in McLennan County, Texas, in December last year.

“He was reportedly charged before the said court with unlawful use of criminal instruments in violation of the Texas penal code,” the BI said in a statement. 

According to the Texas Penal Code, a criminal instrument is anything “that is specially designed, made, or adapted for use in the commission of an offense.” 

The bureau said that the American fugitive is currently detained at its warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City pending deportation proceedings. 

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the foreign national will also be included in their blacklist and will be banned from re-entering the Philippines. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/VBL, GMA Integrated News