PH BARS ENTRY OF AMERICAN SEX OFFENDER

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday intercepted another American sex offender who attempted to enter the country via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the passenger as Daniel Ruic Kimball, 64.

Kimball arrived at the NAIA Terminal 1 aboard a Japan Airlines flight from Narita.

Tansingco said Kimball was denied entry due to his record of conviction as a sex offender who served prison time for his crime in the United States.

Section 29 of the Philippine Immigration Act expressly prohibits the entry into the country of aliens convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.

“This prohibition aims to protect our women and children, anyone of whom can become the next victim of these sex offenders if they are allowed to enter the country,” Tansingco said.

He added that Kimball is now being booked on the next available flight to Tokyo which is his last port of origin.

According to the Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Manila, a court in Missouri convicted Kimball in January 2006 for sexually harassing or coercing a 27-year-old woman.

It has been a standard procedure of courts and law enforcers abroad, especially in the United States, to require their citizens convicted of sex crimes to register with the authorities after they are released from jail or are granted probation.

This enables authorities to keep track of the movements and activities of these offenders, including their travels abroad, thus governments of these individuals’ countries of destination are accordingly informed prior to their arrival.