Australian arrested for hitting flight attendant

An Australian national was arrested the other day by agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) after he allegedly hit a flight attendant of Philippine Airlines (PAL) with a rolled up newspaper during a flight to Davao.

Gregory Powell is now detained at the BI Detention Center in Bicutan, Taguig City and will face the bureau’s special prosecution panel on Monday on charges of undesirability as an alien in the country.

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. said he immediately ordered the arrest of Powell after hearing about the incident from Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles, who was reportedly on the same flight.

Details of the incident were unavailable.

"If proven guilty, he (Powell) would undergo deportation process under immigration laws. Undesirability as an alien is a public charge," Fernandez explained.

He added that they have checked their records and found that the Australian national has valid documents for his stay in the country as tourist.

The BI chief said they will also check on reports that Powell is currently employed in the country.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the BI is the proper agency to act on the case involving the Australian national since his Philippine visa has already expired.

DFA spokesman Gilberto Asuque said the incident involving a foreign national with expired visa is an immigration matter.

"It’s an immigration matter and it’s being investigated by the Immigration. It’s the Bureau of Immigration that’s to resolve the case," Asuque said. "This is an immigration issue. It’s within the powers of the BI to act on this because it’s a case involving an undesirable alien."– With Pia Lee Brago