Manila, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration has denied the entry to the Philippines of three foreign nationals from New Zealand flagged over alleged ties with an international criminal organization.
BI reported that Alexander Michael Schmalkuchen and Stanley Savinata Sunguturanga arrived at NAIA night of February 7, while Ethan Schipper arrived on February 9.
All three were holders of News Zealand passports, but arrived in the country via a flight from China.
BI Interpol Chief Peter De Guzman noted that the passengers went under a verification process after they hit the INTERPOL system.
Subsequent confirmation revealed that they are all subjects of a Diffusion Notice due to alleged involvement with a criminal organization.
An interpol Diffuse notice is a direct request for cooperation and information-sharing between member countries to locate and/or arrest an individual.
The three individuals were tagged as members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club—a gang under international monitoring over alleged involvement with organized criminal activities.
This is still aside from the three’s multiple prior convictions in various countries.
The Philippine Immigration Act bars the admission and entry of foreign nationals who may pose risk and threat to the public and national security.
In line with this, BI issued a stern warning that the Philippines will not serve as a safe haven or transit point for members of transnational criminal organizations.
BI also assured further cooperation with INTERPOL and other international counterparts to intensify border control against individuals linked to organized crimes internationally.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News