The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Sunday that a French pedophile who was wanted in Paris for a number of crimes involving sexual assaults against minors was apprehended by BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) operatives.

The BI-FSU identified the suspect as Theddy Douglas Tissier, 42, who was arrested on 12 December along Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that Tissier was arrested on the strength of a mission order he issued at the request of the French government, which informed the BI about the fugitive's presence in the Philippines.

"We are going to expel him and deport him back to his country. His presence here is inimical to our national interest as he poses a serious threat to our Filipino children," the BI chief declared.

He added that as soon as the BI Board of Commissioners issues the order for his summary deportation, he will be deported, and his name will be placed on a blacklist, preventing him from re-entering the country.

According to Interpol's National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila, Tissier is wanted for prosecution by a judicial tribunal in Tours, France.

Tissier was reportedly charged before the said court with acquiring, possessing, offering, making available, recording, and fixing the pornographic image of a child under 15 years of age.

He was also charged with sexually assaulting a minor and committing fraud in violation of the French penal code.

The French pedophile is currently detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending his deportation proceedings.