An American fugitive wanted for allegedly raping a minor was arrested in the Philippines.
Tony Le, 37, reportedly entered the Southeast Asian country through illegal channels to evade arrest in his home country.
Police raided his rented home in Tarlac, following US intel that he was hiding in the area.
The tattooed suspect, seen wearing a grey sando and black shorts, was caught in the sleepy town of Bamban, where alleged Chinese spy Alice Guo previously served as mayor before her arrest in 2024. The town was found to have been housing a massive, Chinese-led illegal online casino and scam hub known as the Baofu compound.
Officials said Le is wanted in the US for enticing and coercing a minor to engage in sexual activity, in violation of US federal laws involving child sexual exploitation materials.
He had been blacklisted in February 2024 over his 'derogatory history', but is believed to have slipped into the Philippines through backdoor channels.
Authorities hauled him to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Warden Facility pending deportation.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau is committed to protecting children and preventing the Philippines from becoming a haven for foreign fugitives.
He said: 'The Bureau remains steadfast in its commitment to assist international law enforcement agencies in tracking down foreign nationals involved in crimes against children. As part of the BI's #Shieldkids campaign, we will not allow the Philippines to be used as a refuge by predators and fugitives seeking to evade justice.'
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