A 50-year-old American wanted in the United States for alleged sexual abuse of a minor, was arrested during a law enforcement operation held at Camp Tomas Pepito in Angeles City, Pampanga on 10 September 2026.

According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), the said law enforcement operation was conducted following a request for assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

Arrested was Robert Carlos Ramirez, who is subject to an outstanding warrant issued by the Northeast District County of Los Angeles, California, for the felony charge of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

BI-FSU operatives acted on information from the Diplomatic Security Service–Overseas Criminal Investigations (DSS-OCI) of the U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy in Manila, which sought the Bureau’s assistance in locating and apprehending Ramirez.

The operation supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen border security and protect vulnerable sectors from transnational crime, particularly offenses against children.

The U.S. Embassy also informed the BI that Ramirez’s U.S. passport had been revoked.

BI records showed that Ramirez last arrived in the Philippines on 10 July 2023, and was admitted as a temporary visitor under Executive Order No. 408. He has since overstayed his authorized period of stay, has an existing derogatory record with the Bureau, and is subject to deportation proceedings.

Ramirez is currently detained at the Angeles City Jail, Camp Tomas Pepito, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Angeles City, Pampanga, pending resolution of a case involving alleged violations of Sections 4(a), in relation to Section 6(a), and 11(a)(1) of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, as amended by Republic Acts Nos. 10364 and 11862.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said the Bureau will continue working with foreign law-enforcement partners to prevent fugitives from using the Philippines to evade justice.

“The Bureau of Immigration will continue to perform its mandate to ensure that the Philippines is never a safe haven for fugitives, especially those accused of crimes against children. We will continue to work closely with our international law-enforcement partners to locate and apprehend individuals who pose a threat to our communities,” Viado said.

The arrest forms part of the BI’s “Shield Kids” campaign, which seeks to prevent the Philippines from becoming a safe haven for fugitives accused of crimes against children.

The BI said continued cooperation with foreign law-enforcement and diplomatic authorities is essential to strengthening border security and preventing wanted individuals from evading justice in the Philippines.