Immigration authorities are hunting for a Filipino-American fugitive, wanted in the United States for alleged gunrunning.
Immigration Commissioner Ronaldo Genaro ordered the manhunt on Mark Mendoza, 30 years old, of southern California after his mother, Marilou, 60, was arrested in Los Angeles International Airport last week.
Federal prosecutors said that the Mendoza mother and son of Long Beach, California, had been indicted last month but jumped bail while awaiting trial.
Mark, who ran a business called Last Resort Armaments, is believed to be in the Philippines, prompting the BI chief to order the nationwide manhunt.
Authorities said the Mendozas tried to smuggle hundreds of thousands of ammunition rounds and parts for assault rifles to the Philippines, labelling the shipments as household goods but were intercepted by US authorities.
The BI is now coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies for the arrest of Mendoza.