Overstaying Norwegian nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan ordered last Friday the arrest of a Norwegian national for blatant violation of immigration laws.

In a report to Libanan, Immigration Area II director Heranio Manalo identified the Norwegian national as Vidar Teige Nordas who was accosted at the Eruption Bar in the Balibago business district.

Manalo said that on orders of Libanan, Immigration Area II agents swooped down on the bar where Nordas holds office.

Nordas admitted that he was an “overstaying alien” and that he allegedly gave his passport to his lawyer in Manila “to fix his status.”

The Norwegian national allegedly tried to bribe the arresting team by requesting them “to settle his case inside his office” but to no avail.

Manalo said his office would coordinate with the Norwegian embassy and BI-Interpol chief Atty. Floro Balato to know more of the background of Nordas who entered the country on Aug. 20, 2004. Nordas was only given 21 days to stay or until Sept. 10, 2004.

Manalo said Nordas was allowed to extend his stay in the country until May 18, 2005 and since then he has failed to apply for an extension of his stay.

Manalo said the Norwegian national presented an identification card showing that he is a member of a non-government organization called Justice League.

He even allegedly misrepresented himself as Filipino as shown in the Securities and Exchange Commission documents he presented to the Immigration Area II law enforcement agents headed by intelligence officer Eliseo Exconde. Agents Eric Gan, Lucito Mercado, Eduardo Velayo and Ramonsito Nuqui were the other members of the arresting team.

The overstaying Norwegian national was taken to the Immigration Detention Center in Manila where he will face deportation proceedings, Manalo said.

The Immigration Area II has been making headway in monitoring and apprehending overstaying aliens in its area of responsibility.