Immigration lookout bulletin issued vs. Guo, 17 others — DOJ

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has signed the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and 17 others, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Tuesday.

According to the DOJ, the ILBO has been forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

“Sa bisa ng ILBO, ipinag-uutos sa BI na bantayan ang bawat kilos ng mga ito at i-alerto ang mga kinauukulan sa anumang tangka na lumabas ng bansa,” Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez said on BP Ngayon.

(Through the ILBO, the BI was directed to monitor their movement and alert the authorities if they attempt to leave the country.)

For its part, the BI said it has started implementing the ILBO, which it said instructs immigration officers to double check if the subjects have pending arrest warrants, violations or infractions, and to monitor their whereabouts should they attempt to leave the country. 

“According to the said ILBO, considering the gravity of charges, subjects may attempt to place themselves beyond the reach of legal processes by fleeing the country, hence the BI is ordered to relay to the DOJ attempts to depart to obtain information for the proper course of action to be undertaken by immigration officers,” the BI said.

Authorities said they will also apply for a preventive hold departure order against the subjects, which Gutierrez said will prevent the subjects from leaving the country.

Former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan was among those included in the bulletin. 

Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier said based on official documents, Cunanan had introduced himself as the "authorized representative" for the Hong Sheng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban and the Lucky South POGO in Porac.

Meanwhile, the BI said that the manager of the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga that was prevented from leaving the country last week was also included in the ILBO.

The BI said the 30-year-old woman attempted to board a flight to Jinjiang, China at the Davao International Airport. 

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said they suspect that she has visa problems as she declared that she was unemployed but presented a 9(g) commercial employment visa, which must be surrendered once a foreign national has ceased his or her employment from their petitioning company. 

According to Tansingco, the BI will investigate her visa status.

Last week, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Philippine National Police filed a complaint against Guo and 13 others for alleged human trafficking in connection to the POGO hub in her municipality, which was raided in March for alleged illegal activities that include crypto and love scam. 

Earlier in June, the Department of the Interior and Local Government filed graft charges against Guo with the Office of the Ombudsman, prompting it to suspend her for up to six months. 

Guo’s identity as a Filipino is also under question before the Senate.— AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News