DAVAO CITY –— Two foreigners who have been convicted on cases related to sexual exploitation were barred entry by The Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Immigration Commissioner Norman Yansingco identified the two foreigners as James Riley Grant, American and Australian Gideon Hayes, Australian, The two were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on December 22 and 20, respectively.
Tansingco in a statement said, they were stopped at the airport, citing the Philippine Immigration Act, which states that foreigners charged and convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude should not be allowed to enter the country.
The BI stated that Grant is a registered sex offender in Jacksonville, Florida. He was convicted of sex crimes 25 years ago.
The statement added, “A Florida court reportedly convicted Grant on two counts of attempted Rape in the first and second degree as well as on two counts of taking indecent liberties with children, also in the first and second degree.”
On the other hand, an Australian court convicted Hayes in 2004 for two counts of indecent treatment of children. He received a two-year probation sentence, the BI said.
During the interrogation at the BI, Hayes admitted he traveled to the country ““He was said to be traveling to the county “To meet with minors offering sexual services.”
It likewise noted that Hayes admitted to sending money to Filipino children whom he met online or during his previous trips to the Philippines.
Tansingco said Grant and Hayes are included in the BI’s blacklist.
In the same release, Tansingco lamented the upsurge in the arrival of foreign sex offenders
“We have noticed an upsurge in the arrival of foreign sex offenders in our ports,” he lamented. “Despite published reports of their exclusions they keep coming here but we remain undeterred in our efforts to enforce the law against these unwanted aliens.”
