The Bureau of Immigration reported yesterday that a Belgian male model wanted for terrible crimes has been arrested by BI Fugitive Search Unit operatives.

BI-FSU Chief Randel Sy identified the fugitive as Kristof Debie, 38, who was arrested last Tuesday, 17 October at a hotel in Parañaque City. Debie claimed that he worked as a model and a bartender, but according to reports from the European authorities, he was actually part of a criminal organization involved in narcotics.

Sy said that after receiving information on Debie's criminal acts in his home country, the Bureau tagged him as an undesirable alien.

Debie was the subject of an interpol red notice requesting nations to locate and arrest him, issued in March of this year. The Court of First Instance of East Flanders, Ghent Section, in Belgium issued a European warrant of arrest against him for a number of serious offenses, including the torture of minors, involvement in a criminal organization, and serious drug-related charges in violation of the Belgian Penal Code.

In addition, reports from foreign news sources have described the heinousness of his actions, including one in which he amputated the ear of a 17-year-old teenager after misplacing a cocaine stockpile.

In anticipation of his deportation procedures, Debie is now being held at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco reiterated that fugitives are not welcome in the country. "Fugitives are not welcome in the Philippines," Tansingco said. "We are committed to upholding the law. We will not allow our country to be a safe haven for those who seek to escape justice," he added.