By JUN RAMIREZ
An American wanted by US federal authorities on multiple fraud charges has been arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents in Parañaque City.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said 81-year-old Harold Leigh Andrews was apprehended in his condominium at the East Bay Residences on Sucat Road, Parañaque.
Morente said Andrews was arrested based on a summary deportation order issued by bureau’s board of commissioners for overstaying and being undesirable alien.
The American hid in the country for more than five years and has not extended his stay since he arrived in Manila in January 2013.
“We will deport him for being an undesirable, overstaying and undocumented alien,” Morente said.
Bobby Raquepo, head of the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU), disclosed that Andrews is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the grand jury of Baldwin County in Alabama in December 2013.
Andrews was indicted on multiple counts of fraud before the grand jury and fled to the Philippines to avoid arrest and prosecution.
Morente said Andrews has been placed in the bureau’s blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the Philippines once deported.
