Suselbeck collapses at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Marc Suselbeck, the German boyfriend of slain transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, collapsed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday after he was prevented from leaving the country.

Suselbeck must face deportation proceedings for being an undesirable alien. If deported, he will find it difficult to return to the Philippines.

He was rushed to the Makati Medical Center in a NAIA ambulance for treatment.

Suselbeck arrived at the airport at around 4:30 p.m., escorted by his lawyer, Harry Roque. The German proceeded to the immigration counter and was later told by immigration officers on duty that his passport had been confiscated.

Immigration supervisor Marivic Aquino told Suselbeck that the Bureau of Immigration is confiscating his passport because charges have been filed against him and he is supposed to appear before BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison today.

Suselbeck told The STAR that he never expected this situation, calling it “purely Hollywood.”

In a text message to reporters yesterday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Suselbeck’s “misbehavior” at Camp Aguinaldo last Wednesday has made him an undesirable alien.

The BI has initiated deportation proceedings against him, she added.

De Lima said the BI placed Suselbeck on its watchlist and that could be basis to stop him from leaving the country.

“If he appears in the airport, he will not be arrested, but he will be given copy of the charge sheet and will be prevented from leaving on account of such charge,” she said.

Suselbeck must face the charges before he could be allowed to leave the country, De Lima said.

Suselbeck was set to leave for Germany via Malaysia at 6 p.m. yesterday.

An immigration supervisor at NAIA said they will issue Suselbeck an official receipt to show that his passport is with the BI.

Immigration supervisors on duty yesterday said they received verbal instructions and an alert order from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to hold Suselbeck and turn him over to BI intelligence agents.

They were told to immediately inform the DOJ, the National Bureau of Investigation and the police before bringing Suselbeck to the BI’s legal office.

Immigration sources said since 6 a.m. yesterday the NBI and aviation police have been asking airline representatives if Suselbeck was scheduled to leave.

“Suselbeck is being monitored not only at the NAIA terminals but in all airports in the Philippines,” a source said.