Philippines to deport American Catholic priest wanted for sex crimes

MANILA - Philippine law enforcement agents have arrested a 77-year-old American Catholic priest on a warrant for sex crimes issued by a court in the United States, a spokeswoman for the immigration authorities said on Thursday (Dec 6).

Kenneth Bernard Hendricks is to be deported after Wednesday's arrest at his home in Naval on the remote central island of Biliran, where he has been a priest for 37 years, following complaints from dozens of children, she added.

"We will not allow sexual predators to prey on our children," the spokeswoman, Ms Dana Krizia Sandoval, said in a statement.

Hendricks was flown to Manila, the capital, where the US embassy is taking steps to enable his deportation to face charges in the US state of Ohio, she added.

There were no immediate comments from the US embassy and from the Catholic diocese of Naval, responsible for supervising Hendricks.

"I am sad leaving this town," a handcuffed Hendricks told the television media after the arrest, but he made no mention of the case.

The move followed a request by the US Department of Homeland Security after Hendricks was indicted for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places, said Mr Bobby Raquepo, who heads the immigration bureau's fugitive search unit.

A 12-year-old was among the roughly 50 children from Biliran who provided statements to a court in Ohio, he added.