Eleven American fugitives arrested after hiding out in the Philippines have now been deported to the face justice in the USA.
The announcement was made on the website of the US State Department on Friday (June 14).
The US State Department said the 11 fugitives were arrested by members of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) detailed at its Embassy in Manila during a nine-month-long operation.
The statement, signed by department spokesman Morgan Ortagus, said: “Within a nine-month span, from August 2018 to April 2019, the US Department of State’s DSS at the US Embassy in Manila, the Philippines, located and apprehended 11 US fugitives wanted for crimes ranging from conspiracy to commit murder, securities fraud, child abuse, and sexual assault. DSS worked with the US Marshals Service and Philippine law enforcement partners to return these fugitives to face justice in the United States.”
The State Department has not provided details of the identities of the 11 American fugitives.
However, among them is likely to be 33-year-old Jason Eric Keller, was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration while renewing his tourist visa in Davao earlier this month. He is wanted for child molestation and pornography in the state of Connecticut.
Another likely deportee is Ricky Masanque Sanchez, aged 44, who was arrested in Tarlac City last Monday. He was convicted of attempted murder but fled to the Philippines after skipping parole in August 2017.
The DSS is the federal law enforcement and security arm of the US Department of State.
Located in more than 270 diplomatic posts in more than 170 countries worldwide, the DSS helps return more than 300 fugitives annually.
“This is just one example of DSS’ global investigative reach, and demonstrates the strong relationships the department has forged with US, international, and foreign law enforcement partners,” the US State Department said.
The US government also thanked the Philippines for its “longstanding support” as it looked forward to future cooperation as “friends, partners, and allies”.
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