THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it has taken into custody yesterday a British man who earlier made headlines after being arrested by local authorities for gun violence in Manila.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the man as Darren Mark Wall, 44, an ex-boxer who used the alias ‘Jack’, coming from the words Union Jack tattooed on his neck.

Morente bared that Wall was turned over by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group after he was arrested last March for reportedly punching a man and pointing a gun in a nightclub in Poblacion.

Wall was said to have violated the gun ban, disobeyed persons of authority, possessed dangerous drugs, and threatened several individuals. News reports cite that Wall had an earlier criminal career in the United Kingdom, after he and two other cohorts was said to have robbed an ATM.

BI records show that Wall is holding a permanent resident visa, based on his marriage to a Filipina.

According to BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr., Wall may still be deported despite his permanent residency in the country. Manahan said that his office has already recommended that Wall be charged as an undesirable alien.

Wall was said to have led a gang, employing several henchmen in extortion activities and drug-related crimes.

Morente meanwhile reminded foreign nationals to obey the law during their stay in the country. “A permanent residence visa is not a free pass for foreign nationals to disregard our laws,” said Morente. “They are still expected to be in their best behavior, and to comply with the laws of the land. Otherwise, they may be arrested, deported, and banned from returning to the Philippines,” he warned.

Wall will remain in the BI’s holding facility in Taguig, pending deportation proceedings.

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Jun I. Legaspi