Iranian terrorist intercepted at NAIA

Immigration intelligence agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have foiled a suspected international terrorist's attempt to sneak into the country as a legitimate tourist.

Immigration Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez identified the suspected saboteur as Alireza Vafakish Homaee, a 37-year-old Iranian national who arrived Friday afternoon on board a Gulf Air flight from Saudi Arabia.

Rodriguez said several maps of Mindanao and Metro Manila, updated with locations of American facilities and oil depots, were found in the backpack of the Iranian.

"I have already ordered Homaee's immediate deportation, and his name has been placed in the immigration blacklist to prevent him from entering the country in the future," he said.

When questioned earlier by immigration officials Danilo Almeda and Cresencio Alban, Homaee claimed the purpose of his visit was too see his girlfriend, an Iranian doctor based in Mindanao.

The immigration officials, however had already been tipped off by the International Police regarding Homaee's arrival. Local authorities were earlier informed by Interpol that the Iranian was a suspected member of an international terrorist group based in the Middle East.

Homaee's visit to the country was reportedly his first. He had no hotel reservations, raising strong suspicion that his trip had been funded by Muslim extremists in Mindanao.

Security at the NAIA has been tightened following intelligence reports that international terrorists were planning to enter the Philippines to conduct sabotage missions.

All government agencies operating at the airport have been placed on "high-alert status" to prevent the entry of suspected saboteurs, Rodriguez said.

Interpol has been providing the local intelligence committee, particularly the Bureau of Immigration, with updated lists of suspected international terrorists. The latest Interpol list reportedly carries 500 names.

In another development, two Chinese nationals were deported yesterday for trying to enter the country as Nauru nationals.

Rex Sun and Carl Shao were stopped by immigration officials after presenting forged Nauru passports instead of their original People's Republic of China passports, which were later found hidden in their shoes.

The two had arrived aboard a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong.