Ex-First Gentleman Arroyo placed on Immigration watch list

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday placed former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and his accountant Rowena del Rosario on its watch list upon orders from Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

De Lima’s order was issued following the request of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee through its chairman Teofisto Guingona III, which has summoned him to appear in the hearings on its probe over

the second-hand choppers purchased by the Philippine National Police (PNP).The helicopters, allegedly owned by Arroyo, had been passed off as brand-new.

Immigration Associate Commissioner Abdullah Mangotara issued a memorandum to Airport Operations Division and Immigration Regulation Division to implement the order.

Based on the memo, the watch-list order is valid for 60 days unless terminated sooner or extended.

The watch-list order will be effective upon arrival of Arroyo, who is currently in Hong Kong reportedly undergoing medical treatment.

Once included on the watch list, one cannot leave the country unless there is approval from De Lima.

Lately Arroyo has also figured in the alleged 2004 presidential election fraud. De Lima said they already have a witness identifying Arroyo in the alleged fraud.

De Lima said that although the former first gentleman’s name was not in the affidavits of the Special Action Force (SAF) members who submitted their affidavits to De Lima detailing their participation in the switching of election returns at the House of Representatives in 2005, another witness identified   Arroyo. However, De Lima refused to divulge the identity of the person.

De Lima also said the BI had no record of Arroyo’s trip to Hong Kong.

She said they were still waiting for a report from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to determine if Arroyo went out of the country through a chartered flight.