2 co-accused in Arroyo plunder case flew out of PH in July – BI

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Tuesday that two of the co-accused of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the P366-million plunder case flew out of the country last July.

Immigration records showed that Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Board member Raymundo Roquero and Commission on Audit Intelligence Fund Unit chief Nilda Plaras left the country on July 23, a day after the bureau received the order from the Sandiganbayan placing them under the hold departure order list.

Roquero boarded Philippine Airlines while Plaras left the country via TR2783 Tiger Airways Non-stop Airbus A320 from Cebu to Singapore.

However, Roquero returned to the country on July 31 via Philippine Airlines Flight 103 from Los Angeles to Manila.

Plaras received a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court ordering the Sandiganbayan to stop the implementation of the warrant for her arrest and all proceedings related to her case.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor already asked the Sandiganbayan to order the nullification of their passports.

Earlier, another co-accused Jose Taruc V already left the country last July 19.