Accused in chopper scam not on BI watch list

The husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and 18 others charged with conspiring to defraud the government through the 2009 sale of two second-hand helicopters at brand-new prices have yet to be put on the watch list of the Bureau of Immigration.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she could not yet order the immigration bureau to put Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo et al. on its watch list because “the case was not filed with us.”

“[We] need an appropriate request from either the complainants or the Ombudsman for the issuance of a watch list order,” De Lima said in a text message.

But the justice secretary issued such an order on Mike Arroyo on Aug. 4 in connection with the same helicopter controversy. He subsequently secured a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, which took into consideration the then lack of a pending case against him.

Effective for 60 days

The justice department, through the immigration bureau, usually issues watch list orders on persons undergoing or about to undergo indictment proceedings.

Persons on the watch list are required to seek permission from the justice department before they can leave the country.

The watch list order is effective for 60 days unless revoked or further extended by the justice department

More stringent than a watch list order is a hold-departure order, which is granted by a court usually on the request of the prosecution or complainant, to prevent the defendant from leaving the country without the consent of the judge.