Immigration to monitor movement of five PNP generals

Bureau of Immigration (Photo by Elmer B. Domingo, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will be monitoring the movement of five Philippine National Police (PNP) generals identified by President Rodrigo Duterte as having link to illegal drugs trade, in case they attempt to leave country.

Lawyer Tonette Bucasas – Mangrobang, BI Spokesperson said that BI officers in all ports in the country had been ordered to implement departure protocols.

“Our officers will implement strict departure protocols ‘yun kailangan ng travel authority from their department, mga ganun requirement,” she said.

But, the BI official clarified that there was no hold departure order (HDO) issued against the police officials.

On Tuesday, Duterte named PNP Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., former National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Joel Pagdilao, Western Visayas regional director Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz, Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio and retired police general Vicente “Vic” Loot, for allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

Mangrobang noted that the BI knows what to do in case these PNP officials try to leave the country.

“The Immigration officer would ask for a travel authority, to also refer to the supervisor na this person has appeared. Kasi kung may hininging documents na present automatic na I-refer sa supervisor ‘yun,” she said.

On the case of the general who is no longer in government service, the BI official said, “The immigration personnel would also be tasked to check his ticket just to ascertain actual destination and the date of return to the Philippines. For information lang because as of this time we have not received any other orders from any other office to prevent the departure.”

Meanwhile, Mangrobang said that they were also checking on the records of a certain Peter Lim, who was identified along with two other as “drug lords” by Duterte.

She noted that they have checked 4,000 names.

With this, the BI official said that they would coordinate with the PNP to give them additional information on the suspected drug lord.

“Siguro ang initial gagawin namin we are inclined to ask for clarification from PNP, as to the identity baka they have other information with respect to his identity. Kasi nga if they are going to put Peter Lim in the watchlist we have already checked around 4,000 plus with the same name and we would also request for an image,” she said.