Australian turned away at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - An Australian man, reportedly convicted as a sex offender in his native country, was recently refused entry into the Philippines by Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a statement, the BI said yesterday that Scot William Ilyes, 38, who carried a New Zealand passport, was intercepted and turned away when he arrived at the NAIA from Singapore on April 4.

BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said Australian authorities tipped NAIA immigration officials about Ilyes’s scheduled trip to the Philippines.

It appeared that Ilyes was planning to take a connecting flight from Manila to Iloilo and stay there for two weeks before returning to Australia.

Citing a report from the Australian federal police, Mangrobang said Ilyes is a child sex offender who was convicted by a district court in Perth, Australia on Feb. 25, 2010.

He was charged and found guilty on multiple counts of indecent assault against children aged more than 13 and 16 years and sentenced to 12 months in prison.

His sentence was later conditionally suspended for 24 months during which he was under probation and supervision.

Mangrobang said the Australian police also warned the BI that because of Ilyes’ criminal conviction, he posed a risk to Filipino children.