LUBAO, Pampanga- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested here last Wednesday a British national wanted by his government for alleged pedophilia.
In a report, the BI identified the suspect as William James Neville Ireland, 68, who is now in BI custody following his arrest by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).
Ireland is on the wanted list of UK’s National Crime Agency for engaging in sexual acts with a child at his home in Northern Ireland in 1996.
He was reportedly charged with seven counts of indecent assault of a female and two counts of gross indecency with a child.
The report quoted BI chief Jaime Morente as saying his agency would work for the immediate deportation of Ireland.
“We will immediately deport them as their continued stay in the country poses a serious threat to our women and children,” Morente said, also referring to other foreigners wanted for a similar offense in their countries.
Ireland had hidden in the Philippines since Oct. 1, 2013, arriving as a tourist. He fled the UK to evade questioning by police on a complaint of patterns of sexual abuse, on the same day he was supposed to be interviewed by the UK police.
Ireland became the subject of an Interpol red notice that was issued last Aug. 5 after UK authorities found that he had fl ed to the Philippines.
