Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan on Wednesday placed on the bureau’s watchlist a US national who is facing criminal charges in the Philippines since 2006, a day after ordering the deportation of three American criminals.

Placed on the BI’s watchlist was Joel Richard Bander, 53, who is said to be a prominent lawyer in Los Angeles serving the Filipino-American community and whose law firm is considered to be one of the biggest in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The order came after a review of immigration records which showed that Bander has been in the Philippines several times this year, but has somehow been able to elude arrest each time he arrives in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

According to Libanan, Bander is facing criminal charges in Manila for allegedly molesting a Filipina back in July 2006. Bander faces criminal charges before the Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 27, Manila, said Libanan, who ordered all immigration officers in all ports of the country to watch out for Bander in case he comes back to the Philippines. Court records said Bander is facing an “Acts of Lasciviousness” complaint filed by a certain Cristina San Jose of 94 Panay Ave., Quezon City. However, Bander has since failed to appear in court.

Libanan said Bander has an outstanding warrant of arrest that was issued by Judge Joel A. Lucasan on July 10, 2008, or two years after the case was originally filed. However, records showed that the warrant was returned to the Court apparently because Bander cannot be located at the Imperial Bayfront Tower residence that he used as his address.

The condominium is located at 1624 A. Mabini St., Ermita, Manila. However, court records said security personnel at the premises said there was no person by the name of Bander at the complex and that the condo unit belonged to a different owner.

Though Bander has since been tagged as a fugitive, immigration records indicated that Bander was in and out of the country, prompting Libanan to issue the order to put Bander on a 24/7 watchlist and will be held upon his return for his eventual arrest by the Manila police.