BI’s lookout order can’t prevent Guo from leaving PH – PNP

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) lookout order could not stop dismissed Tarlac town mayor Alice Guo from leaving the country, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said only a hold departure order issued by the court could prevent Guo from leaving the country.

An immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) was issued by BI against Guo last June.

“Ang immigration lookout bulletin [order] is just a lookout order na ini-issue, parang alert list lang ito na certain individual ay aalis ng bansa at aalamin kung ano ang purpose ng pag-travel niya, saan siya pupunta, gaano katagal at titingnan kung siya ba ay may intensyon na lumabas,” Fajardo, who is also a lawyer by profession, said when asked if an ILBO could prevent Guo from leaving the country.

(The immigration lookout bulletin [order] is just a lookout order that is issued, it’s like an alert list that a certain individual will leave the country and the individual will be asked as to the purpose of their travel and its location, for how long and it will also be checked if the individual has the intention to come out.)

“This is separate and distinct doon sa hold departure order na ini-issue ng korte. Pagka ang hold departure order ay inissue ng korte ay yun ay hindi siya pupwedeng lumabas unlike yung lookout bulletin, he or she can leave the country in the absence of any warrants of arrest,” she added.

(This is separate and distinct from the hold departure order issued by the court. When the hold departure order is issued by the court, he or she will not be able to leave, unlike the lookout bulletin where he or she can leave the country in the absence of any warrants of arrest.)

Guo has an arrest warrant from the Senate over her failure to attend its hearings.

However, Fajardo said that “the warrant issued by the Senate is different from the warrant issued by the court.”

“Kung ILBO lang po ang inissue sa kanya, based on parameters, she or anyone who will be included in the ILBO ay pupwede pong lumabas at mag-travel in absence of warrant of arrest,” Fajardo said when pressed if this means that Guo could go out of the country.

(If only ILBO is the issue against her, then based on parameters, she or anyone who will be included in the ILBO will be able to go out and travel in the absence of a warrant of arrest.)

Guo is reportedly out of the country since July 18, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros, but the mayor’s camp said she is still in the country.

Fajardo said the PNP has to work through diplomatic channels to bring Guo back to the country.

She also noted that the PNP did its part in handling Guo.

“With respect to the PNP, what I can say sa part ng (on the part of) PNP ay (is) we did our part, lahat ng pwedeng gawin (all of the things we could do) in terms of monitoring and even doon sa (on the) implementation ng (of) warrant of arrest issued ng (by) Senate,” Fajardo said.

“We provided the necessary police assistance doon sa mga (on the) personnel ng (of) Senate sergeant-at-arms at (and) if there is any effort on the PNP na maibigay pa namin (that we could give) then the PNP is willing,” she added.

Guo has been the subject of scrutiny over her alleged ties to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators  in Bamban town.