(Eagle News) — Senator Leila de Lima, two of her former close aides, and three former government officials reporting to the former justice secretary had been issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) for their alleged involvement in the rampant illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP).
The Department of Justice’s immigration lookout bulletin order was issued against De Lima, former justice undersecretary Francisco Baraan, former Bureau of Corrections head Franklin Jesus Bucayu, former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) head Reginald Villasanta, and De Lima’s former close aides Joenel Sanchez and bodyguard-driver Ronnie Dayan.
The memorandum, dated October 7, was issued by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente.
He said that there was a “strong possibility” that the persons named in the lookout bulletin may attempt to flee or leave the country. There is currently a congressional investigation on the illegal drug trade at the national penitentiary where De Lima and the five others had been tagged.
“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,” the memorandum stated.
Aguirre said that memorandum was issued based on the request of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Based on the request of the NBI, the individuals subjected to this ILBO, are allegedly involved in the proliferation of the illegal drugs inside the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) and other areas,” he said in the memorandum.
Aguirre said it should be ensured that “all the named incumbent government officials and employees, shall not be allowed to leave the country, without corresponding travel authority from their heads of office.”
He also directed the Bureau of Immigration to coordinate with other concerned agencies and offices, and even airline companies, “especially since international passengers are customarily required to check-in within a specified number of hours before the flight.”
The Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) was classified as “extremely urgent.”
But an ILBO is different from a court-issued hold departure order or HDO. A person listed under the lookout bulletin order is not restricted from leaving the country.
One of those in the immigration watch-list, former DOJ undersecretary Baraan, has already left the country in August allegedly for medical reasons. This was before the House justice committee hearing on the alleged illegal drug trade started.