BI: 2 ‘sex tourists’ arrested, banned from PH
MANILA, Philippines — Local authorities are set to deport two arrested foreigners for multiple sexual offenses, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Thursday.
The BI identified the foreign nationals as Joseph John Graham, 76, and Ryan Ashley, 50.
According to BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, Graham and Ashley were arrested in two separate operations conducted on Wednesday, October 16.
American national Graham was arrested at Clark International Airport in Angeles City, Pampanga, while British national Ashley was intercepted at the Immigration office in SM Aura, Taguig, during his attempt to extend his tourist visa.
“They will be deported immediately and will be placed on our blacklist, banning them from re-entering the Philippines,” Viado said in a statement.
Article continues after this advertisementThe BI reported that Graham is wanted in Florida, where he faces an arrest warrant for 55 counts of child pornography.
Article continues after this advertisement“Investigation allegedly revealed that multiple child sex abuse materials, including nude pictures of Filipino children, some as young as 3 years old, were found on the mobile phone of Graham, who frequently travels to the Philippines,” the BI’s statement read.
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Meanwhile, Ashley had been convicted twice in the United Kingdom for multiple sexual offenses, including indecent assault on minors.
Graham will remain in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation as additional charges are being considered against him, while Ashley has been transferred to the Bureau of Immigration’s detention facility in Bicutan, according to the BI.
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Graham and Ashley were arrested as part of the BI’s #Shieldkids campaign, which is dedicated to deporting child sex offenders and those engaged in sex tourism.
