BI, PNP nab suspected pedophile

A 48-year-old American, wanted for committing 46 sexual assaults in Hawaii, was recently arrested in La Union by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said Reynaldo Estillore has been in hiding in the country since Jan. 25, 2006. He was arrested on the strength of a mission order issued at the request of the United States Embassy and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Libanan said in a statement said that Estillore will be deported to the United States to face trial for 48 counts of sexual assault on two minors in Hawaii. He also reportedly faces other criminal cases for molesting several other children.

BI Technical Assistance for Intelligence Victor Boco said the FBI received information that Estillore was in hiding in the Philippines with his five-year-old daughter.

Apart from being a suspected sex offender, Estillore was an undocumented alien at the time of his arrest since the US State Department had cancelled his passport.

If convicted, Estillore could be imprisoned for 20 years for every count of sexual assault on the first and second degree, and five years for each count on the third degree.

Libanan also ordered Estillore to be placed in their “blacklist” to make sure that he would no longer be allowed to enter the country. – Evelyn Macairan