DOJ issues lookout order vs Aquino, ex-Cabinet members, Sanofi execs

Former President Benigno Aquino III at the Senate probe into Dengvaxia, the dengue vaccine procured and used for an immunization program during the Aquino administration.
INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Update

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has alerted immigration officers in all international ports to be on the lookout for former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, some of his Cabinet members, and key Sanofi-Pasteur executives.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Saturday evening issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against the subjects, according to DOJ spokesman Usec. Erickson Balmes.

Aguirre decided to issue the order after militant group Gabriela and parents of Dengvaxia-injected children filed graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday.

Included in the ILBO are the following:

-former President Benigno Aquino III

-former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad

-former Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa

-former Health Secretary Janette Garin

-Guillaume Leroy

-Olivier Brandicourt

-Ruby Dizon

-Thomas Triomphe

-Carlito Realuyo

READ:Parents of Dengvaxia-vaccinated kids file graft raps vs Aquino admin execs

Gabriela and other complainants accused them of “knowingly” acting in bad faith when they entered a deal for the procurement of the controversial anti-dengue vaccines.

In his order, Aguirre said that considering the gravity of the charges, there is a “strong probability” that the persons may leave the country.

Persons under the lookout bulletin are not allowed to leave the country unless an allow departure order from Aguirre has been secured, according to the DOJ.

“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,” the DOJ chief said.