Operatives of fugitive search units nab American national John Tomas Minor (left) and British national Derek Gordon Heggie (right) in Cebu province on Monday, Nov. 27, for being wanted by authorities in their countries. Photo from the Bureau of Immigration.
MANILA, Philippines — Two foreigners wanted in the United States and United Kingdom for sex-related crimes have been arrested in Cebu, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Tuesday.
The bureau said American national John Tomas Minor and British national Derek Gordon Heggie were nabbed in separate operations of the BI’s fugitive search unit on Monday, November 27.
At the request of US and British authorities, the BI said Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued mission orders to arrest the two men. The foreign authorities also informed the BI of the two fugitives’ criminal records and offenses.
The BI said Minor was arrested in Cebu City.
Citing US authorities, the bureau said a superior court in Washington had issued a warrant for Minor’s arrest for raping and molesting a child.
Heggie, on the other hand, was arrested in Bogo City.
The BI said that according to UK’s National Crime Agency, Heggie was convicted of sexual assault in 2005 and committed other sex crimes.
The BI noted it was warned of the suspect’s violence, “with an extensive criminal history that includes different types of sexual abuse, damage to property, possession of narcotic substances, among other grave offenses.”
“They will be deported after our board of commissioners issues the orders for their summary deportation, after which they will be included in our immigration blacklist to prevent them from reentering the country,” Tansingco said in a statement.
The BI chief stressed that the Philippines should not be used as a hideaway for foreigners evading arrest and prosecution for crimes they committed in their homelands.
Minor and Heggie were temporarily detained at the bureau’s office in Mandaue City. They will be eventually transferred to the bureau’s warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
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