(PNA file photo)
MANILA – At least 49 foreign sex offenders were not allowed to enter the country since January, according to the report of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
In a statement over the weekend, Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the number was lower than the 64 passengers denied entry during the same period in 2023.
"This only shows that we are successful in our campaign to stop the entry of foreign sex offenders as it is deterring or discouraging other foreigners like them from coming here," he said.
Of the total, 35 are Americans and the rest are either British or German nationals.
Most of them had previous records of convictions for sex crimes in their country of origin while others were accused or were subjects of complaints for sex offenses.
Earlier this year, the BI launched its Project #Shieldkids Campaign, intensifying information on possible sex predators that are in the country or are attempting to enter the Philippines.
The Philippine immigration act expressly forbids the entry of aliens who have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude. (PNA)
