American fugitive arrested in RP

American fugitive arrested in RP

MANILA (AFP): An American, wanted in the United States for various sexual offenses, has been arrested in the Philippines, the Immigration Commissioner Leandro Verceles said yesterday.

James Leon Peifer, 46, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was arrested yesterday in Olongapo city north of Manila, Verceles said.

Peifer had entered the country in June, 1995 and had found a job as a computer salesman. Verceles said they were not able to prevent him from entering the country because the U.S. embassy only informed them of his background last January.

U.S. Embassy spokesmen could not be contacted for comment. Peifer told reporters that he had asked to be summarily deported and said he would go back home to face the charges.

He denied that he was guilty of the sexual abuse charges, saying his wife had orchestrated them when they divorced in 1992. He did not elaborate.