Overstaying Jordanian nabbed for swindling, illegal recruitment

MANIlLA, Philippines — Intelligence operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested an overstaying Jordanian national wanted for swindling and illegal recruitment, Immigration Intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said on Sunday.

The foreigner was identified as 40-year-old Tarek El Abed Albarghouti. He was arrested recently in General Santos City by members of the Mindanao Intelligence Task Group (MITG) of the bureau.

According to Manahan, Albarghouti was arrested by virtue of a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente after he learned of the foreigner’s illegal status.

“A check in our travel database showed that he had been overstaying in the country for more than five years as he has never departed since he arrived here on April 22, 2014,” Manahan said in a statement.

Albourghati was also the subject of a deportation complaint filed by two women who claimed that he swindled more than P30,000 from them, BI MITG chief Melody Gonzales said.

According to the women, Albourghati refused to return the amount despite their repeated demand, Gonzales added.

Albourghati allegedly asked for the money as payment for processing and facilitating the women’s departure for Dubai, where they were purportedly recruited to work as hotel reservation officers.

BI agents also learned during the arrest of the Jordanian that he was already an undocumented alien, his passport having expired on March 19, 2019.

“He also admitted that he did not bother to apply for an extension of his stay as a tourist since he arrived in the country,” Gonzales said. “Upon interview he said that the fee was too much for him.”

Albarghouti is now detained at the holding facility of the BI district office in Davao City while undergoing deportation proceedings.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)