BY JUN RAMIREZ
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BUREAU of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested a suspected American pedophile wanted by US authorities for alleged sexual exploitation of a Filipino minor.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the 69-year-old Michael Kent Clapper was nabbed last Monday in San Manuel, Pangasinan during a joint operation conducted by operatives from the bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) and Philippine National Police (PNP).
The BI chief said he issued the mission order for Clapper’s arrest upon the request of the US Embassy in Manila.
In a letter to the bureau, the embassy sought the BI’s assistance in apprehending Clapper due to his “involvement in possible sexual exploitation of a minor in the Philippines.”
Reports also alleged that the victim was a 12-year-old girl with whom Clapper has been engaged an “inappropriate relationship.”
The embassy also stated that Clapper’s US passport has already expired, so he’s now an undocumented alien who is subject to summary deportation.
“He will be deported also for being an undesirable alien as his continued presence here poses a serious risk to our Filipino children, anyone of whom could be his next victim,” Morente said.
It was learned that the alien is temporarily detained at the San Miguel police headquarters pending release of his swab test for COVID-19.
If tested negative for the virus, he will be committed to the BI Warden Facility in Bicutan, Taguig City where he will remain until he is deported.
A check of the BI’s travel database showed that Clapper arrived in the country as a tourist on March 26 last year. (Jun Ramirez)
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