BI apprehends American pedophile fugitive in Cebu

BI apprehends American pedophile fugitive in Cebu

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | March 10, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) has successfully apprehended a 73-year-old American national, Wayne Barboza, who is a wanted fugitive in the United States for failing to comply with crucial sex offender registration laws.

The arrest, executed in coordination with Philippine law enforcement, highlights a broader effort to combat foreign individuals posing a threat to children.

Barboza’s apprehension by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) agents occurred on February 27, 2026, at the Cebu City Jail Annex in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City, with the support of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology–Cebu. This operation followed a formal request from the United States government.

Authorities confirmed that Barboza is subject to an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

The warrant cites a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(b), specifically for a sex offender’s failure to report intended international travel.

Prior Arrests and Ongoing Investigations in the Philippines

Philippine records reveal a more extensive history of legal troubles for Barboza within the country. He was previously arrested in Cebu in March 2024 under warrants issued by a Regional Trial Court for serious offenses: rape and acts of lasciviousness, both involving a minor.

Further investigations, initiated in September 2024 by Homeland Security Investigations Manila, with critical assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation–Central Visayas Regional Office and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Cebu, uncovered four additional alleged victims. While these individuals bravely disclosed experiences of abuse, they ultimately declined to file formal complaints.

According to reports, Barboza is expected to enter a guilty plea to a single count of acts of lasciviousness in connection with the charges he faces in the Philippines.

Attempted Departure and Overstaying Status

Bureau records also indicate Barboza’s attempt to depart the Philippines in **January 2024**, which was thwarted by a Hold Departure Order issued by a Cebu court.

Furthermore, immigration records confirm that he has not filed any applications for visa extension or conversion, rendering him an overstaying alien in the Philippines.

BI’s #Shieldkids Campaign

The Bureau of Immigration emphasized that this arrest is an integral part of its ongoing #Shieldkids campaign.

This intensified initiative is specifically designed to target foreign sexual offenders and other foreign nationals who pose a significant threat to the safety and well-being of children within the Philippines.

The BI remains committed to proactively identifying, apprehending, and deporting individuals who exploit vulnerable populations.