American fugitive faces deportation

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will deport an American woman wanted in the United States for defying a court order in connection with a child custody case.

Cyndie Mamuad Mesina, 54, was arrested last week along Roxas Boulevard in Ermita, Manila by operatives of BI’s fugitive search unit, according to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente.

Morente said Mesina is being held at the BI detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig pending the issuance of a deportation order by the BI Board of Commissioners.

Mesina is an overstaying alien and does not possess a valid travel document, the BI said.

A mission order for her arrest was issued by Morente based on the request of the US government.

Mesina has a pending arrest warrant issued by the Superior Court of California in San Mateo county, which cited her in contempt of court over a child custody case.

The BI said Mesina would be blacklisted and banned from re-entering the Philippines.