THE Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and 11 other persons of interest in the ongoing investigation on the illegal activities of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga that was recently raided by law enforcement operatives.
Also included in the ILBO were Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, Xiang Tan, Jing Gu, Stephanie B. Mascarenas, Michael Bryce B. Mascarenas, Duanren Wu, Zhang Jie, Raymund Calleon G. Co, Randell Calleon G. Co and Han Gao.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said it has evidence showing that the 12 are incorporators and corporate officers of Lucky South 99, the POGO facility in Porac, Pampanga that was raised by operatives last June.
The ILBO was signed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“Considering the gravity of the possible charges, as well as the wide media coverage and public attention this has gained over the past months, there is a strong possibility that the above- mentioned nationals may attempt to place themselves beyond the reach of the legal processes of this Department by leaving the country,” Remulla said in his order to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
“Hence, we deem the issuance of an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against the subject persons in order to at least monitor the itineraries of their flight, travel, and/or whereabouts,” Remulla added.
‘PLAIN HARASSMENT’
Roque, in a statement, branded as “plain harassment” his inclusion in the ILBO.
“I consider the Immigration Bulletin Lookout Order (as) plain harassment. The only pieces of evidence they have are: one, that I have accompanied Katherine Cassandra Li Ong for rescheduling of arrears payment; and two, an uncorroborated organizational chart, which I had no participation in preparing neither did I consent to my name’s inclusion,” he said.
He added: “This political witch hunt is intended to silence me as a critic of this administration and I expect they will up the ante following my call, posted on Facebook, to keep Malacañang drug-free after the damning revelations of eyewitness Cathy Binag.”
Roque was referring to the video of a man, who resembled President Marcos Jr., who was seen holding a plastic pack with a crystalline substance suspected to be illegal drugs.
On the other hand, Binag, a socialite, in a vlog interview, had claimed that the President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos were regular cocaine users.
Roque also said there is no reason for him to leave the Philippines and vowed to face his accusers and answer all allegations thrown at him related to offshore gaming.
DOJ assistance secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano took exception to Roque’s statement.
Clavano said there is no harassment in the issuance of the ILBO. “I do not see where that is coming from. They are part of those being investigated and I don’t see any reason why that is a problem or how could that be political harassment,” he said.
HOLD DEPARTURE ORDER
PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio said the ILBO is “preparatory for the application of a preventive hold departure order (HDO).”
Clavano said the ILBO stated that the DOJ will also seek a precautionary HDO from the Office of the Executive Judge to prevent the subjects from leaving the country.
‘Yung hold departure order na nakaka-restrict na talaga sa movement ng isang tao, iniisyu po ‘yun ng court (The hold departure that restricts the movement of people is issued by the courts). The Executive cannot restrict the right to travel (of anyone) but the hold departure through the courts can,” he said.
CASE BUILDUP
Casio said the PAOCC is building up the case to be filed against the 12.
He said the probe has so far shown that the 12, including Roque, are incorporators and corporate officers of Lucky South 99.
He said they have “documents and testimonial evidence” to bolster their case.
“Thus, we consider them as persons of interest and we are conducting a case buildup against them,” said Casio, stressing: “We are conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether or not they have accountability in relation to the POGO (hub) that we raided.”
He said the PAOCC will file charges against Roque and the others if evidence warrants. “At this point, we’re gathering evidence,” adding that “if there is insufficient evidence, they are not going to be charged.”
Casio said they may file charges against some of the suspects this week.
“I’m not sure who among them will be included in the case we are going to file this week. Based on our discussions last week, we will file charges (this) week against some of them,” he said.
MONITORING MECHANISM
Clavano said the issuance of an ILBO is only a monitoring mechanism.
“Ibig sabihin po ‘yung 12 na individuals na ‘yun ay ma-momonitor ‘yung outbound and inbound travel nila (This means that the outbound and inbound travels of the 12 will be monitored),” Clavano told reporters in a chance interview.
“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 (It will not restrict their right to travel but the Immigration and the DOJ will keep tab of they travel outside the country or when they enter other countries),” he said.
Clavano said the ILBO was issued since the 12 are considered as flight risks, adding that authorities have received information that Li Ong had already left the country.
“That was one of the reasons which prodded us na maglabas na po ng ILBO doon sa ibang inimbestigahan pa (to issue an ILBO against the others being investigated),” Clavano said.
‘Yung pinaka-goal dito is to save the integrity po ng investigation. Ayaw naman po natin sa gitna ng investigation bigla na lang sila aalis at hindi natin alam (The goal here is save the integrity of the investigation. We don’t want them to leave the country without our knowledge while we are still in the middle of our investigation),” he added.
He said they have experiences in the past where individuals being investigated managed to leave the country.
“Kaya gusto lang natin manigurado and we want to make sure the investigation (will) stand (We just want to make sure that the investigation will stand),” he said.
Asked if Roque is considered a flight risk, Clavano said “that is one of the considerations” but did not elaborate. — With Jocelyn Montemayor and Victor Reyes
