BI orders tight watch on wanted US lawyer

10/29/2009

Immigration authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were ordered to arrest an American lawyer who may try to leave the country to escape prosecution as he is facing numerous criminal charges in the Philippines.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan placed on the bureau’s watchlist Joel Richard Bander, 53, a prominent lawyer in Los Angeles serving the Filipino-American community.

Bander has been in the Philippines several times this year but has somehow been able to elude arrest each time he arrives at NAIA.

Bander is facing criminal charges in Manila for allegedly molesting a Filipina back in July 2006. Bander faces criminal charges before the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 27.

Court records show Bander is facing “Acts of Lasciviousness” complaint filed by Cristina San Jose of 94 Panay Ave., Quezon City. But Bander has since failed to appear in court.

The foreigner has an outstanding warrant of arrest that was issued by Judge Joel Lucasan on July 10, 2008, or two years after the case was filed. However, the warrant was returned to the court apparently because Bander could not be located at the Imperial Bayfront Tower residence that he used as his address.

Bander has since been tagged as a fugitive, was in and out of the country, prompting Libanan to issue the order to put Bander on a 24/7 watchlist and will be held upon his return or seen at the airport. Conrado Ching

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