DOJ issues lookout bulletin order vs 5 police generals

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Acting on a request from Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday afternoon, July 13, directed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to place under its lookout bulletin the 5 police generals earlier tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

The Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) covers former Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr, Mayor Vic Loot of Daanbantayan in Cebu, former National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, former Quezon City Police District Office director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, and former Region 6 police chief Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz.

Of the 5 on only Diaz, Pagdilao and Tinio are still in the active service.

In his 3-page memorandum to the BI, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II instructed all immigration officers to be on the lookout for the police generals should they pass through immigration counters in any international port or seaport in the country.

Those still in the service are required to show a copy of the authority to travel abroad granted by their respective offices before they are allowed to leave.

The Immigration chief was also directed to coordinate with the Department Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) regarding the subjects of the ILBO.

“For the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to promptly relay to the Office of the Secretary this Department, any pertinent information, especially those tending to indicate that the subjects are attempting to leave the country, and other relevant information that may be the basis for the proper course of action to be taken by immigration officers,” the memorandum said.

“Hence, all concerned are strongly warned against waiting until boarding time to inform the concerned offices of any attempt to leave the country,” it added.

The ILBO was issued a few hours after Sueno made a formal request with the DOJ. 

“At this crucial time when the issue about their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade is being investigated, we would actually prefer that these generals would not be able to leave the country,” Sueno said in his letter of request to Aguirre.

The DILG chief said his request is meant to ensure the speedy investigation of the police officers.

He cited the ongoing National Police Commission (Napolcom) investigation into allegations against the 3 active police generals. Loot, as a local chief executive, is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. – Rappler.com