By Brian Jules Campued
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to place former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and 11 others in its lookout bulletin to monitor their whereabouts.
Included in the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) are: Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, Xiang Tan, Jing Gu, Stephanie Mascareñas, Michael Bryce Mascareñas, Zhang Jie, Duanren Wu, Raymund Calleon Co, Randel Calleon Co, Dennis Cunanan, and Han Gao.
The DOJ said the ILBO was issued against the said individuals in relation to the investigation into the alleged illegal activities of the Philippine overseas gaming operator (POGO) raided in Porac, Pampanga.
In its memorandum for BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that “a precautionary hold departure order will likewise be filed at the Office of the Executive Judge pending preliminary investigation.”
In a media interview on Tuesday, DOJ spokesperson ASec. Mico Clavano clarified that the lookout order will not prohibit them from traveling but will only enjoin concerned agencies to monitor the individuals’ outbound and inbound travel.
“Hindi ito nakaka-restrict sa right o karapatan mag-travel pero patitimbrehan lang po ang Immigration at ang DOJ kung lumabas o pumasok sila sa bansa,” Clavano said.
Meanwhile, the DOJ has also turned down the request of the lawyers of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for more time to file a counter affidavit regarding the qualified trafficking charges against her.
Clavano said the prosecutors will now decide whether to lodge the case before the courts based solely on the complainant’s allegations as the embattled mayor repeatedly failed to appear personally during the preliminary investigation.
On the other hand, Cunanan, Lin Baoying, and Mavielyn Rillo were granted a 10-day extension to file their respective counter affidavits for various reasons.