Paul David Cardwell, 57, fled the United States and attempted to hide in the Philippines, until he was located in Cebu City by agents from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Cardwell's attempt to extend his temporary visitor's visa on March 27, 2024, led authorities to his location, according to Raymond Remigio, the head of the BI Tourist Visa Section. Cardwell used the online services of their office to extend his tourist visa in the Philippines.
The system suddenly raised an alert when it was revealed that Cardwell was wanted in America for fraud amounting to $850,000. A secondary check was conducted, confirming that the American had escaped justice.
A manhunt was initiated by the BI and, on April 3, 2024, the agency's intelligence operatives located Cardwell in Cebu while he was inquiring about the procedures to apply for a permanent residence visa in the Philippines.
Cardwell had already been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the United States but managed to escape. He was initially arrested in Bangkok, Thailand before escaping again to the Philippines.
The American will be immediately transferred at the BI Custodial Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
(Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Immigration)
