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DOJ okays ILBO vs Bantag, Zulueta

December 20, 2022 Hector Lawas 215 views

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has authorized the issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and former Bureau Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta.

The issuance of the ILBO was contained in an urgent memorandum to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco dated December 7, 2022, and signed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

“Considering the gravity of the offense charged in the criminal complaints, there is a strong possibility that respondents may attempt to place themselves beyond the reach of legal processes by leaving the country. Thus this Department deems the issuance of an ILBO against above-subject individuals prudent in order to monitor the itineraries of their flight, travel, and/or whereabouts,” the memorandum reads in part.

An ILBO requires immigration officials to inform the Justice secretary if the subject of a lookout bulletin intends to leave the country through international airports and seaports.

Only the courts can stop a person from leaving the country.

Bantag and Zulueta were implicated in the murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid last October 3 and the subsequent death of middleman Jun Villamor.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) have filed two murder complaints against them before the DOJ.

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