Official: BI-INTERPOL agents arrest US Army deserter

A Philippine Immigration official has reported the arrest of an American fugitive who is wanted by US military authorities for deserting his Army post. Bureau of Immigration officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma identified the fugitive as Michael Lawrence Eastwood, 41, who is a subject of a no-bail arrest warrant from the US Department of Defense. Ledesma said BI-INTERPOL operatives arrested Eastwood last November 23 at his residence along Gabriel Street in Baclaran, Parañaque City. Eastwood will stay at the BI detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City, until his deportation to the US to face a court martial. Eastwood's arrest was carried out by virtue of a deportation warrant Ledesma himself signed in accordance with a summary deportation order issued by the BI board of commissioners. Lawyer Faizal Hussin, BI intelligence chief, said Eastwood has been overstaying in the Philippines for almost a year. Moreover, he said the American became an undocumented alien after the US State Department revoked his passport last July 2. BI records show that Eastwood arrived in the country as a tourist on Nov. 29, 2009, but never bothered to extend his visa after his 21-day tourist stay expired. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV