The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, Nov. 6, issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against seven officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) who were ordered to appear during the investigation of the House of Representatives.
“The secretary (Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla) has just signed the immigration lookout bulletin order which now will allow the Bureau of Immigration to monitor the travel of the seven OVP officials,” said DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV.
Clavano said the ILBO will be forwarded immediately to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for implementation.
He said the issuance of the ILBO was requested by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability which has been investigating the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) under the tenure of Vice President Sara Duterte on the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds.
Placed under the ILBO are OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, Assistant Chief of Staff and Bids and Awards Committee Chair Lemuel Ortonio, Administrative and Financial Services Director Rosalynne Sanchez, Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta, Chief Accountant Juleita Villadelrey, former DepEd Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda, and SDO Edward Fajarda.
The seven officials have ignored summons of the House committee to appear during the investigation.
Clavano reminded that “ this ILBO is not a restriction to their right to travel but merely a monitoring mechanism by which we can see kung lumabas po sila ng bansa o pumasok na (if they left or entered the country).”
He said only hold departure orders (HDO) or precautionary HDO (PHDO) issued by the courts can prevent persons from leaving the country.
He explained that an HDO or PHDO can only be issued by the courts.
A judge can only issue a HDO or PHDO if charges have been filed before the courts or before a prosecutor's office, respectively.