British sex offender barred from Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — A British man convicted of molesting a child tried to enter the country on Feb. 14, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported yesterday.

Mark Andrew Bowman, 54, arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport from Singapore.

He reportedly intended to stay in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City for nearly a month, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.

According to information received by the BI, Bowman was convicted of gross indecency with a 10-year-old child, qualifying him as a sex offender under Philippine immigration law.

He was immediately flagged after his name appeared in the BI’s list of foreigners who were convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.

The Briton was placed on the next available flight back to his port of origin.