PRESS RELEASE
PR244
NOVEMBER 16, 2011
We just followed orders - BI
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said today it was only following the directive of the Department of Justice (DOJ) when it did not allow former President Gloria Arroyo and her husband Miguel to leave the country.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) had no choice but to implement Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's directive that the watchlist order issued against the former First Couple should be implemented as it was still in effect.
"Until such time that the watchlist order against them is lifted by the DOJ, we cannot allow them to leave," David stressed.
David also said that lawyers for the Arroyos should have gone first to the DOJ to secure a lifting of the watchlist order right after the Supreme Court granted their petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO).
He explained that in the absence of a written order from the DOJ lifting the watchlist, immigration officers at the NAIA will not let the Arroyos board their flight to Singapore.
David stressed that under BI rules, a watchlist order can only be revoked upon order of the agency or official that requested or who authored it.
"In this case, it was the DOJ that issued the watchlist, thus only the DOJ can direct us to revoke it," he said.
Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI spokesperson, cited the case of the former president's son, Ang Galing Partylist Rep. Mikee Arroyo, whose lawyers followed procedures by obtaining an allow departure order (ADO) from the DOJ.
Earlier, a Quezon City judge granted the petition of the solon and his wife Angela, who are facing tax evasion cases, that they be allowed to go on temporary trip abroad despite the issuance of a hold departure order (HDO) against them.
Mangrobang also denied allegations that the Arroyos were mistreated by the immigration officers who stopped them from leaving.
Mangrobang said the passports of the Arroyos were not confiscated but were temporarily held as part of immigration departure formalities. ###
source: ANC 24/7 Notes
