Lee O’Brian and Pokwang. Image: Instagram/@leeobrian, @itspokwang27
Actress-comedian Pokwang‘s estranged ex-partner, Lee O’Brian, was successfully deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the agency announced on Thursday.
On April 11, BI said in a statement that the American national was officially taken out of the country last Monday.
“BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that O’Brian was deported on April 8 on board a Philippine Airlines flight to San Francisco (in the United States) after the BI confirmed that he has no pending local case in the Philippines,” the BI stated.
The local agency affirmed that O’Brian stands no chance to re-enter the Philippines as he is now part of BI’s blacklist.
“As a consequence of his deportation, his name has been included in the BI’s blacklist, barring any future attempts to re-enter the country,” stated the BI.
In 2023, Pokwang, whose legal name is Marietta Subong, filed a deportation case and cancellation of visa against her former partner, as O’Brian was operating in the country without proper permits, using only his tourist visa despite already staying in the Philippines for eight years.
In her filing, the actress-comedian declared that O’Brian “rendered work in different production companies without securing the required Department of Labor and Employment and BI permits.”
Despite filing a motion for reconsideration, BI denied O’Brian’s request, stressed the merits of Pokwang’s complaint, and ordered the American citizen deported for violating the conditions of his stay in December.
Meanwhile, the Filipina actress has been urging O’Brian to provide financial support for their child, recently lamenting on Instagram’s comment section, “Hoy, [Lee O’Brian], ano na? Panay lang party at golf kasama ng mga pokpok? Mag-support ka hoy!”
[Hey, Lee, what do you plan to do? To continue partying and playing golf with your girls? Provide financial support for your child!]
Pokwang and O’Brian had been in a six-year relationship before confirming their separation in July 2022. They have one daughter, Maila.