American tourist arrested for assault in the Philippines

An American tourist, Ronald Berlin, was arrested in the Philippines for allegedly assaulting a man over sexual harassment claims. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that he was apprehended on March 14 at his home in Makati City. The incident happened at a five-star hotel in Paranaque City on March 9 when the victim confronted Berlin about allegedly assaulting his wife. Berlin, 31, entered the Philippines as a temporary visitor on March 5, 2023. He did not extend his stay and became an overstaying foreign national. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that Berlin’s actions made him an “undesirable alien,” and deportation proceedings against him are underway. Berlin also has a separate arrest warrant filed in September 2024 by the Makati City Metropolitan Trial Court for charges of physical injury and breaking the Safe Spaces Act. In another case, a Japanese national named Odaira Kai, 35, was arrested on March 15. He is suspected of being part of a fraud syndicate known as "Luffy" and has been linked to stealing ATM cards and withdrawing over ¥4 million from a victim. Both Berlin and Kai are currently held at the BI Custodial Facility in Taguig City while facing deportation.