BI nabs 5 US fugitives

MANILA, Philippines - Five American fugitives were arrested in the country this month, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday.

Among these fugitives is Elbert Kyung Ma, 32, who was found guilty of manslaughter for killing a 22-year-old man over an unpaid debt in July 2011, the same month he arrived in the Philippines on a tourist visa.

Ma was arrested in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City on Sunday after months of surveillance, BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison said.

BI agents confiscated various identification papers from Ma, among them a company identification card identifying him as Andrew Lee, a regional manager of Manpower Philippines Inc., a Makati-based firm.

Mison said the US diplomatic security service has issued a one-page “most wanted” poster for Ma, who is also wanted for violating his parole in his convictions for homicide, illegal possession of firearms, fraud and drunk driving. 

The US embassy told the BI that Ma’s passport has been revoked and that he poses a risk to public safety and interest. Mison said Ma has been blacklisted and is set to be deported.

Four other fugitives have also been arrested this month, according to Mison: Jeffrey Louis Ochs, alias Jeffrey Stokes, 54; Charlie Alog, 62; Michael Robert Cronin, 31; and Danielle Nopuente, alias Isabelita Nopuente and Danielle Parker, 49.

Ochs, wanted for identity fraud, was apprehended last June 20 in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Alog, wanted for rape and sexual assault of a child, was apprehended last June 19 in Umingan, Pangasinan. He was deported the following day.

Cronin, wanted for a burglary, was caught in Dasmariñas, Cavite and is set to be deported.

Nopuente, wanted for multiple counts of theft and fraud, was arrested by operatives in Tagaytay City last June 4.

Nopuente, reportedly a big-time businesswoman and resident of a subdivision in Alabang, Muntinlupa, failed to present valid travel documents and is set to be deported, the BI said. – Evelyn Macairan