By U.S. News Agency / Asian

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport a convicted American child molester who was arrested after 10 months of hiding in the country.

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. disclosed that 71-yearold Ronald William Paul was arrested last Feb. 29 in his residence at the BGC Village in Davao City by operatives of the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).

David said Paul is wanted for by authorities in Tennessee for violating the parole which he obtained after being convicted of a sex crime.

He added that he issued the mission order for the American’s arrest after the US embassy sought the BI’s help in locating the fugitive. “He will be sent back to the US as soon as we have obtained the clearances for his deportation after which we will put him in our blacklist to prevent him from re-entering our country,” the BI chief said.

Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said Paul was issued a warrant by a general sessions court in Jacksonville County, Tennessee after he violated the conditions of his parole.

Mangrobang said Paul failed to register as a sex offender, a condition for his provisional release from prison, and instead fled to the Philippines.

Armelo de Castro, BI-FSU head, said the fugitive has been hiding in the country since May 6 last year.

De Castro said the American was already an undocumented alien upon his arrest as the US State Department had already revoked his passport.

Authorities in Tennessee have described Paul as a violent sex offender, having been previously convicted on charges of committing lascivious acts against a child under 14 years old.