The Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEGROUP) reported that a 56-year-old man was arrested Friday night, 4 April, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 just before he could leave the country.

Authorities said the passenger, a resident of Dumaguete City, was bound for Toronto, Canada.

The arrest was the result of a joint operation by the PNP-AVSEGROUP and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), after it was discovered that the individual had a standing warrant of arrest issued in 2013. The warrant was for a violation of Presidential Decree No. 957, also known as the Subdivision and Condominium Buyer’s Protective Decree. Bail for the case was set at P20,000.

The accused is now in the custody of the Southern District Field Unit NCR-CIDG for documentation and future court proceedings.

"Accountability is not lost with time. Justice is served, especially in our country's airports, whether it takes twelve days or twelve years. We are dedicated to maintaining our airports as safe havens, not havens for the wanted,” said PNP-AVSEGROUP Director PBGen Christopher Marcial Abecia.