The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that the names of 35 individuals have been added to their monitoring list for alleged involvement in suspicious flood control projects.
The BI received a copy of an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) afternoon of September 3, directing immigration officers to strictly monitor the names included in the list.
The order, signed by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, refers to the attached letters from Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta who chairs the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, and Atty. Rodolfo Noel S. Quimbo, Director General of the Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management (BROOM), requesting for the issuance of an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) or Watch List against 35 individuals in connection with the ongoing Senate inquiry in aid of legislation on the “Philippines Under Water” concerning the reported malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance on flood control projects from 2022
Citing the ILBO, the BI is ordered to monitor the subjects “in view of the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing investigation, given that there is a strong possibility that the individuals named may attempt to evade legal processes by leavIng the country”.
The ILBO is for monitoring purposes only, and is not a sufficient prohibition for a subject’s departure from the Philippines.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval explained that the order requires immigration officers to verify from relevant government agencies if there freshly issued orders relating to the subjects should they attempt to depart. Officers are also instructed to collect necessary information about the subject’s travel, to aid in the investigation being conducted against them.
Included in the ILBO are Alex and Raymond Abelido, Cezarah Discaya, Ma. Roma Discaya Rimando, Allan Quirante, and 30 others.
