Senator Leila Delima during a Senate inquiry on extrajudicial killings. INQUIRER FILE / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) on Senator Leila De Lima and five others allegedly involved in the proliferation of drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
A subject of an ILBO can still leave the country but has to seek permission from the DOJ. Its purpose is to monitor the whereabouts of the person subject of an ILBO.
Aside from De Lima, also on the ILBO are former Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu, De Lima’s former driver Ronnie Dayan, former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission head Reginald Villasanta and De Lima’s former aide Joenel Sanchez.
“Considering the gravity of the possible commission of any offense, there is a strong possibility that they may attempt to place themselves beyond the reach of the legal process of the Department by leaving the country,” stated in the memorandum of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre which was addressed to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente.
“We thus deem the issuance of an ILBO against the subject persons prudent in order to at least monitor the itineraries of their flight, travel and/or whereabouts,” it added.
Aguirre directed Morente to ensure that De Lima and the five others “shall not be allowed to leave the country without corresponding travel authority from their heads of offices.”
He also directed the Bureau on Immigration (BI) to coordinate with other concerned agencies and offices, and even airline companies since international passengers are customarily required to check-in within a specified number of hours before flight.
ILBO is different from a court-issued hold departure order or HDO since the former only directs the BI to be on the lookout for a person of interest and to verify his status. That person is not restricted from leaving the country.
Witnesses in a House inquiry have accused De Lima, Bucayu and Baraan of taking millions of pesos in drug money from high-profile inmates at the New Bilibid Prison.
Baraan left the country in August before the House’ inquiry for health and medical reasons.
On the other hand, Sanchez was mentioned as the one who collected money for De Lima. Last week, he testified in Congress regarding the relationship of De Lima and her driver Dayan. He denied receiving money from Bilibid inmates.
Villasanta, on the other hand, allegedly joined Bucayu in convincing former police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Benjamin Magalong to drop his proposal of a massive raid at the Bilibid in 2014. CBB
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