By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday reported the arrest of a Spanish national facing serious allegations of domestic abuse in Pasig City.
In a statement, the BI said its Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) executed a mission order that targeted the 58-year-old Pablo Escudero Pardo, who was reported for abuse and harassment in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.
The foreigner’s arrest on Wednesday stemmed from a complaint from his alleged common-law partner who claimed she is being mistreated by the Spanish man.
BI records indicate that the foreigner is overstaying, having failed to apply for an extension after his work visa expired in 2021.
Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to ensure the protection of vulnerable Filipinos against abusive foreign nationals.
“In alignment with the President’s mandate, we reaffirm our resolve to enforce immigration laws without exception—particularly against individuals abusing visa privileges or doing undesirable actions in the country,” he said.
The BI confirmed that the Spanish national will be held at the Bureau’s Warden Facility in Taguig City, after standard processing, with deportation and local charges moving forward simultaneously.
Suspected drug supplier nabbed at NAIA
Meanwhile, the BI has intercepted and excluded a suspected drug supplier flagged under an Interpol alert upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Wednesday.
The suspect, identified as 62-year-old Hong Kong national Chiang Yiu Wai, was detected through advanced screening hours before his arrival. The denial of his entry will also result in his name being blacklisted, effectively barring any future attempts to enter the Philippines.
The alert was processed by the BI’s Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) Operations Center (APOC), which promptly flagged Chiang as a possible security threat linked to international drug trafficking.
“The early detection of this individual demonstrates the strength of our APIS system and the importance of strong inter-agency and international cooperation. This proactive approach ensures that threats are dealt with even before they set foot on Philippine soil,” Viado added.
Viado also reported that the BI’s APIS system is integrated with 13 major airlines including Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, KLM, Thai Airways, EVA Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Qantas Airlines, Korean Airlines, and Air Canada.
These carriers account for 57.75 percent of total flight operations nationwide.
He said Qatar Airways is scheduled to begin submitting passenger information to the APIS system starting July 20, further strengthening the country’s border security framework. (PNA)
