Philippine Immigration authorities have arrested a British man working as a scuba-diving instructor in the central Philippines after being identified as a registered sex offender in the United Kingdom.
Operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Fugitive Search Unit, operating together with the Philippine National Police, arrested former teacher Andrew Charles Beaumont, 47, on 16 February at Sitio Cabalian in Santa Fe, Romblon province.
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Beaumont is registered as a sex offender in the UK and is subject to a life-long Sexual Offence Notification Order issued in 2012.
Beaumont was convicted while working as a teacher in Melbourne, Australia, in 2009 and sentenced on multiple counts to four years and six months’ imprisonment, with a three-year non-parole period, after engaging in bad behaviour
At the time of his arrest, Beaumont was reportedly known locally for managing a dive business, Tablas Pro Scuba, where he had allegedly been providing his services as a scuba diving instructor.
Checks by the Bureau showed Beaumont last entered the Philippines on 19 September 2022 on a temporary visitor’s visa, the last authorised extension to which expired in November 2023, rendering him an ‘overstaying alien’, according to Philippine immigration policy.
‘It is absolutely unacceptable for foreign sex offenders to come to our country,’ said Commissioner Viado. ‘We express our outrage against anyone – especially foreigners – who seek to victimise minors and violate their innocence.
‘The Bureau of Immigration will relentlessly pursue and deport individuals who pose a threat to our children.’
Viado said the arrest forms part of the Bureau’s #ShieldKids initiative, which strengthens border control, intelligence sharing and enforcement action against foreign sex offenders and traffickers.
‘We stand firm in our commitment to safeguard children,’ he said. ‘Through our #ShieldKids campaign and close coordination with international and local law enforcement agencies, we will ensure that predators find no refuge in the Philippines.’
At the time the official statement was released on 18 February, Beaumont was being held at the Bureau of Immigration Warden’s Facility pending deportation.
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