BI intercepts American sex offender

The Bureau of Immigration reported on Sunday that its operatives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 intercepted another American believed to be a sex offender who was trying to enter the country.

Reports disclosed that BI-NAIA officials apprehended the American identified as Daniel Ruic Kimball, who arrived last Friday at NAIA Terminal 1 via a Japan Airlines flight from Narita.

BI spokesperson Danna Sandoval revealed that Kimball's record of conviction as a sex offender — who completed prison time for his offense in the United States — prevented him from entering the country.

She added that according to Section 29 of the Philippine Immigration Act, it expressly prohibits the entry into the country of aliens convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude which aims to protect the country's women and children as anyone of whom can become the next victim of these sex offenders if they are allowed to enter the country.

Kimball was immediately booked on the next available flight back to Tokyo from his port of origin.

According to Interpol's National Central Bureau in Manila, a court in Missouri convicted Kimball in January 2006 for sexually harassing or coercing a 27-year-old woman.

It has been a standard procedure for courts and law enforcers abroad, especially in the US, to require their citizens convicted of sex crimes to register with the authorities after they are released from jail or are granted probation.

This enables authorities to keep track of the movements and activities of these offenders, including their travels abroad; thus, the governments of these individuals' countries of destination are accordingly informed prior to their arrival.