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BI chief orders arrest of wanted American pedophile hiding in RP

11/17/2007

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Marcelino Libanan has ordered the arrest of an American pedophile who faces a string of criminal cases in the US for molesting several children.

Reynaldo Estillore, 48, was arrested last Thursday in Central West, Bauang, La Union by joint operatives of the BI’s Law Enforcement Division, PNP Regional Intelligence Police Office (Ripo) and San Fernando police station.

Estillore was arrested on the strength of a mission order Libanan issued at the request of the US Embassy and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which informed the BI about the American’s record as a fugitive from justice.

Libanan also directed that Estillore be placed on the Immigration blacklist to prevent him from reentering the Philippines.

The BI chief vowed to continue without let-up the bureau’s campaign to flush out foreign fugitives using the country as a refuge to escape criminal prosecution.

According to BI technical assistant for intelligence Victor Boco, FBI agents learned of Estillore’s presence in the country after they were tipped off the fugitive fled with his five-year-old daughter to the Philippines to evade prosecution for his crimes.

Boco said Estillore was already an undocumented alien at the time of his arrest as the US State Department had canceled his US passport.

Boco added the fugitive is the subject of an arrest warrant issued last Jan. 25 by the US District Court in Hawaii that stemmed from his unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

A check of the BI’s records showed Estillore fled to the Philippines on Jan. 25, 2006 and was admitted for one year on Balikbayan visa.

The US Embassy said if convicted Estillore, could be sentenced to 20 years in prison for each count of sexual assault on first and second degrees and five years for each count on the third degree.

Estillore was reportedly charged with 30 counts of sexual assault for repeatedly molesting his first victim and 16 counts relative to his second victim.

Conrado Ching