Immigration confirms Joseph Lim Pe’s passport

Former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Bureau of Immigration on Monday confirmed that a passport under the name of Joseph Lim Pe was used last March to leave the country but could still not confirm it was former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes who used it.

Reyes has a warrant for his arrest issued by the Palawan Regional Trial Court for the death of broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega. The government has offered a P2-million reward each for any information that could lead to the arrest of the former governor and his co-accused and brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes Jr..

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David said Monday that it was difficult to determine who used the passport because there was no CCTV camera at the immigration counter.

Sources from the Immigration Department early this month said Reyes managed to sneak out of the country last March 18, 2012 aboard Cebu Pacific Flight 5j751 bound for Vietnam. He allegedly used a passport with the name Joseph Lim Pe. The passport was issued only last February 3, 2012.

Reyes managed to leave the country a few days before the Palawan court issued a warrant for his arrest

David said the fact that the passport was read by the machine at the immigration counter means it was either authentic or a good replica.

Aside from passport, Reyes also managed to acquire a driver’s license under the name of Joseph Lim Pe. He allegedly left the country accompanied by a certain lawyer named Atty. Hermie Aban.