BI BARS ENTRY OF CONVICTED AMERICN CHILD MOLESTER

THE Bureau of Immigration has barred entry into the country of an American who had been convicted in his country for sexually molesting children.

Todd Nolan Jones, 60, was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) upon his arrival from Taiwan last Oct. 11.

He was intercepted by immigration officers based on the order issued by Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco who received the information from the United States government on the arrival of the convicted American.

“According to the US government, Jones was convicted by a California court in 2000 on three counts of sexually molesting children aged under 13,” the BI said.

The US authorities informed the BI about his impending arrival in Manila barely a few hours before his plane landed at the airport.

This prompted Tansingco to issue an alert order for his exclusion if encountered at the airport, which led to his interception. 

The Philippine Immigration Act bars the entry to the country of foreigners who have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.

“It has been our standard to turn back these aliens with record of conviction for sex offenses,” Tansingco said.

“We are doing this to protect our women and children, any of whom could be their next victim,” he added.

Jones had been booked on the first available flight back to his country of origin and placed in the BI’s blacklist of undesirable aliens.