Immigration: No record of Zaldy Co aide flying out of country
MANILA, Philippines — The aide of former lawmaker Zaldy Co has not departed the country, the Bureau of Immigration said.
In a message to reporters, immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau has found no record of John Paul Estrada’s departure, contrary to a lawmaker’s claim that he was forced to fly out.
“Upon initial verification, we have found no record of any departure incident involving the individual in question,” Sandoval said in a message to reporters.
“Nonetheless, we are conducting a thorough review of the matter and will submit our findings to the DOJ and other concerned authorities,” she added.
She also said that immigration counters are “equipped with passport readers capable of detecting counterfeit travel documents.”
On November 17, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) rejected the allegations that Estrada and his wife were unlawfully detained, beaten and flown to Chile to prevent him from testifying on anomalous flood control projects.
This was after the statement of former Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor claiming that the bureau detained and tortured the aide of Co.
“We categorically condemn any false, malicious, or unverified statements intended to undermine the credibility and integrity of our institution. We reaffirm our commitment to transparency, due process, and the rule of law,” the NBI said in a statement on November 17.
The bureau also urged Defensor to “present verifiable evidence” and avoid hearsay if he plans to pursue the accusations.
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