DAVAO CITY — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to file charges against an overstaying Pakistani national recently arrested by the police in Palawan for alleged possession of guns and explosives.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente has ordered the BI Legal Division to file charges of immigration law violation against 29-year-old Haroon Bashir, who was arrested last 06 August 2020 at his residence along Atis road, Dacillo Compound, Bgy. San Jose, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Morente disclosed that the Pakistani, suspected as a bomb maker by the police, will undergo deportation proceedings for overstaying and being an undocumented alien.
“A check of his travel record in our database showed that he arrived in the Philippines on 28 April 2013 and that he never left the country since then,” Morente said.
He added that aside from overstaying here for more than seven years, Bashir also failed to present his passport or any travel document, thus he is also an undocumented alien.
Reports said the regional office of the Philippine National Police in MIMAROPA Region is still investigating his possible involvement with local terrorist groups.
But Morente explained that even if the BI orders Bashir’s summary deportation, he will not be deported yet as he is facing criminal charges for possession of deadly weapons which could land him in jail if he is convicted by the court.“It is only after he has served his sentence that we can deport him,” the BI chief said.
Bashir will be blacklisted and banned from re-entering the country.
Also found in Bashir’s house were caliber .45 pistol and two improvised explosive devices (IED) which they immediately detonated after the raid.-Newsline.ph
