Convicted sex offender arrested at BI office

Intelligence agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have arrested a convicted sex offender from the United States who failed to comply with American regulations.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said that Gary Vern Jorden, 68, was arrested on June 4 at the bureau’s main office in Intramuros, Manila.

This was after Jorden, who was with his lawyer, went to the BI office to inquire about the blacklist order the bureau had issued against him.

“Apparently, he was not aware that he was on our wanted list of fugitives,” David said, adding that the BI board of commissioners had issued a summary deportation order against Jorden even before his arrest.

Under the bureau’s rules, foreigners facing deportation are automatically included in its blacklist.

Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said that a superior court in Los Angeles, California, had issued an arrest warrant for the American who was earlier found guilty of sexual battery.

This was after he failed to report his change of address as required of a convicted sex offender.

She added that Jorden’s passport was revoked by the US state department, making him an undocumented alien and subject to deportation.

Investigation showed that Jorden arrived in the Philippines on June 10, 2011, and had been staying in Cebu since.