Lookout bulletins vs Aquino, others to stay

MANILA, Philippines — The immigration lookout bulletin orders (LBO) issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on highprofile personalities facing criminal charges, including former president Benigno Aquino III, will stay despite the new guidelines set by the Supreme Court (SC) to prevent flight of criminal suspects.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said this yesterday following the SC’s approval of a new rule on prevention of flight of criminal suspects through a Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) after earlier striking down the power of the DOJ to issue hold departure orders (HDO) or watchlist orders (WLO). 

Guevarra said LBOs were not covered by the SC ruling last April that voided DOJ Circular No. 41 issued by former justice secretary and now detained Sen. Leila de Lima for violation of the constitutional right to travel.

“The LBO does not restrain foreign travel but serves only as a measure to monitor movements abroad of certain persons of interest,” he explained in a text message.

Aquino, former health secretary Janette Garin and former budget secretary Florencio Abad Jr. are covered by an existing LBO in relation to charges of multiple homicide and physical injuries through negligence under the Revised Penal Code, malversation of public funds and violations of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) filed against them by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. (VPCI) last February.

Guevarra said the DOJ is keeping the LBO, which was issued by former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in December 2017 when a key witness surfaced to spill the beans on the P3.5-billion dengue immunization program.

He said the similar order against Cebuano businessman Peter Lim, who is facing drug charges before the DOJ, also stays.

“The LBOs issued on these high-profile personalities are not lifted,” he bared.Guevarra also said the rule on issuance of LBO would have to be modified insofar as it requires the subjects to secure an Allow Departure Order from the department before they could be allowed to leave the country.