Immigration authorities said on Monday an overstaying Pakistani had been charged for violating immigration law and illegal possession of guns and explosives.

Commissioner Jaime Morente of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Haroon Bashir, 29, was arrested on Aug. 6, 2020 at his residence in Barangay San Jose, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

The suspect was found in possession of a caliber .45 pistol and two improvised explosives.

Authorities are also looking into his possible connection with local terrorist groups, Morente said.

“A check of his travel record in our database showed that he arrived in the Philippines on April 28, 2013, and that he never left the country since then,” Morente said.

Bashir will be deported only after his prosecution and if convicted, service of sentence. Jojo Mangahis