International airports monitored for departing cronies, mistresses

Immigration officers and intelligence agents in the country’s four international airports were ordered yesterday to keep a tight watch on all Estrada cronies and mistresses who may try to sneak out of the country.

New Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo issued the order after reports reached her office that people close to ousted President Joseph Estrada were waiting for an "opportune time" to go abroad and escape prosecution on corruption charges.

Domingo said she instructed officials at the airports "to delay the departure of these persons should they try to board commercial or private planes."

The delay, she explained, will allow them to inform higher authorities, which can then instruct the bureau on what to do next.

"Although many of them are not yet included in the hold-departure list, the Department of Justice has the authority to stop their departure," Domingo said.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez earlier approved hold-departure orders against 24 people, including Estrada, his family, and friends as well as officials facing corruption charges.

Domingo said immigration officials will be closely monitoring departing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan International Airport, Davao International Airport and Laoag International Airport. Monitoring has also been ordered at the Clark and Subic airports, following reports that one of Estrada’s mistresses was set to fly out of the country aboard a private jet.

The airports at the country’s special economic zones are used by cargo and chartered flights.

Another private jet, owned by a crony of the ousted leader, has been seen parked at the NAIA general aviation area, where a ground crew was readying the aircraft for a possible flight out of the country.

However, air control tower personnel have been ordered not to give any take-off clearance to any private aircraft unless a copy of the passenger manifest is made available to the Air Transportation Office.

Several of Estrada’s cronies and mistresses left the country even as the DOJ built up a case against the former leader.

Perez said they will also go after cronies and mistresses who may have benefited unlawfully during Mr. Estrada’s two and a half years in office.

Presidential friends Charlie "Atong" Ang and Jaime Dichaves and mistresses Laarni Enriquez and Joy Melendrez fled even before Mr. Estrada was ousted from Malacañang on Jan. 20.