American fugitive arrested by Bureau of Immigration and Deportation

CEBU, Philippines - An American national was arrested by the Cebu district office of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation yesterday for 38 counts of grand theft and financial abuse.

BID alien control officer Casimiro Madarang, III said that Donald Martin Steffensen is a fugitive wanted by the Madera Superior Court of California, thus a warrant of arrest was issued.

The US Embassy in Manila has informed BID of Steffensen after an investigation conducted by the Regional Security Office confirmed that the suspect was seen residing at an apartment along Carajay Street, Lapu-Lapu City since February 10, this year.

A request was also sent by a special agent to the US Department of Justice to revoke Steffensen’s US passport.

The BID Law Enforcement Division stated that Steffensen is already overstaying here for 21 days, as his latest date of arrival was on February 5, last year.

Also, Steffensen is just a holder of a tourist visa and that there is no record to indicate in the BID main database that he was granted an extension of his visa to justify his continued stay in the country.

Wilfredo Poquez, acting chief of the LED, said that Steffensen is not only an overstaying alien but also a wanted criminal in the US with a bail of $300,000. Steffensen was already taken to the BID head office in Manila for deportation, Madarang said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)