BI ordered to cancel Lam’s investor visa, issue lookout order

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to cancel the investor visa of gambling tycoon Yin Lok Lam, also known as Jack Lam.

At the same time, the DOJ has also ordered the BI to put Lam in its Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) despite information that he has already left the country last Nov. 29.

Lam has left the country for Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to arrest him for economic sabotage.

READ: Jack Lam has left PH

Immigration Spokesperson Atty. Maria Antonette Mangrobang said they are already in the process of implementing Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre’s order.

“We are just preparing the documents but it [the DOJ’s order] will be effective today,” Mangrobang said.

ILBO is different from a court-issued hold departure order since the former only directs the Bureau of Immigration to be on the lookout for the subject and to verify the status of a case against the subject person and not to restrict an individual from leaving the country.

Mangrobang said the ILBO is not moot given that Lam has left the country because the arrival of the person subject of ILBO is also being monitored.

“But so far we have no records that he is already in the Philippines,” Mangrobang said.

More than a thousand Chinese nationals were arrested by the BI last Nov. 24 at Fontana Resort owned by Lam. The tycoon arrived in the country last Nov. 25 then met with Aguirre on Nov. 26. He left the country three days later. JE/rga