Immigration officers barred two American nationals convicted of child abuse crimes from entering the country in separate incidents at major international airports, the Bureau of Immigration announced.

The latest exclusion occurred at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, where immigration officers turned back Daniel Anthony Welch, 53. Welch arrived on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco.

Bureau records showed that Welch was convicted in the United States in 2006 for sexual assault and a pattern of abuse involving a 14-year-old child. Officials denied him entry under Philippine immigration laws covering foreign nationals whose presence is deemed prejudicial to public interest.

The incident followed the exclusion of 57-year-old American national Christopher Jon Plowman at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Plowman, who arrived on an Eva Air flight from Taipei, was turned back after officers verified his 2005 US conviction for a criminal offense involving a child.

"These cases demonstrate our commitment to keeping children and vulnerable persons safe," Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement. "The Philippines will not be a refuge for foreign nationals with criminal records involving the sexual abuse of children."