The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is closely monitoring all 43 individuals being linked to suspicious flood control projects following the issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) from the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said they received the ILBO on Wednesday afternoon, September 3, directing the Bureau to strictly monitor all 35 names on the list.

Signed by Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, the order followed a request from Senator Rodante Marcoleta and Atty. Rodolfo Noel Quimbo to place the said individuals under close watch while the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducts its inquiry in aid of legislation on the alleged anomalous contracts related to several flood control projects in the country from the year 2022.

Marcoleta chairs the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations while Quimbo is the Director General of the Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management (BROOM).

Commissioner Viado clarified, however, that the ILBO is “for monitoring purposes only” and is not sufficient to restrict the individual from departing the Philippines. 

Under the order, immigration officers are instructed to verify from relevant agencies the consequences of the subject’s departure and to collect the necessary information about the subject’s travel. 

Included in the list are Alex and Raymond Abelido, Cezarah Discaya and 40 others.

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