Overstaying American arrested, set to be deported after being accused of child abuse

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested an overstaying American accused of inflicting harm and sexually abusing minors in Davao Occidental.

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. identified the American as Leslie Allen Hardy, 55, now detained at the immigration jail in Bicutan, Taguig.

David said Hardy’s arrest was prompted by complaints of residents in Malita, Davao Occidental, about his alleged indecent behavior and sexual advances on minors in the area.

Hardy also allegedly sexually molested his own minor son and refused to have the child treated for the urinary tract infection he suffered, the BI said.

“We will deport him for being an undesirable alien and for overstaying in the country for  more than three years,” David said in a statement.

Investigation revealed that Hardy last arrived in the country on February 2010 and did not extend his visa even as his authorized stay expired in April that year.

Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said the American recently managed to convince the parents of a 14-year-old girl to have the latter legally adopted by him in the guise of helping the child who was suffering from sleep apnea and malnutrition.

“They were already processing the adoption papers when the parents decided to cancel their agreement upon learning that the man who would adopt their child was a pedophile,” Mangrobang said.

The BI official urged the public to report to the bureau the presence and activities of undesirable aliens in their communities.

“We encourage the public to help us enforce our immigration laws on aliens who violate them.  Report them to us and we will act,” Mangrobang said.