THE Department of Justice yesterday issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against the owner of the sports utility vehicle that ran over a security guard in Mandaluyong City last week.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the ILBO was “issued at noon today (Tuesday).”
The ILBO was issued on the request of the office of the prosecutor of Mandaluyong City so that Immigration officials can monitor whether the SUV owner, identified by the Land Transportation Office as Jose Antonio San Vicente Sr., would attempt to leave the country.
Unlike a Hold Departure Order (HDO), the ILBO does not necessarily prevent a person from leaving the country but the person must seek an Allow Departure Order from the DOJ so his destination can be known.
San Vicente is facing charges of frustrated murder and abandonment of one’s victim filed by the police before the Mandaluyong Prosecutors Office.
PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said Vicente, the owner of the Toyota Rav4 that ran over security guard Christian Floralde last June 5, is still in the country.
Guevarra said a check with immigration records showed “there was no record of departure after the subject incident.”
Floralde has been discharged from the VRP hospital and will continue to recuperate at home. He plans to pursue criminal charges against San Vicente.
Last June 5, at around 3:50 p.m., Floralde, while directing traffic at the intersection of J. Vargas and Saint Francis Streets in Barangay Wack Wack, signaled the SUV to stop but the driver ignored, ran him over, and sped off.
Prosecutors handling the case may also request for a Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) from the court.
Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said the criminal complaints against San Vicente are set for preliminary investigation, adding San Vicente’s counsel has already “obtained a copy of the complaint yesterday.”
Asked why only an ILBO request, and not a PHDO, was made considering that criminal complaints have been filed against San Vicente, Malcontento said “there has to be a request for PHDO from complainant/police.”
“As of yesterday, based on our monitoring, he has not gotten out of the country,” Danao said, adding the PNP has been monitoring the whereabouts of San Vicente after the incident, noting that he may go into hiding.
“We have to admit, there are many areas where he may go into hiding and, as people say, he might be coddled by some people he knows,” said Danao.
Danao reiterated his call on San Vicente to surrender. A warrant of arrest has yet to be issued against San Vicente.
Last Monday, Danao said San Vicente had a similar case of reckless imprudence, citing information from the Land Transportation Office.
Yesterday, Danao said: “Records will show that it’s (June 5 incident) not the first time. He was involved in similar cases before. I think this is the fourth reckless imprudence (he is facing) so this person really has a problem.” — With Victor Reyes and Christian Oineza
