The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has formally requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, three incumbent senators, and several other government officials and personalities linked to the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
In a letter dated Wednesday, ICI chairman Andres Reyes asked the DOJ to place under ILBO the names of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, former Senator Bong Revilla, and Makati Mayor Nancy Binay, among others. The list also includes Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana, Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and several district engineers and lawmakers reportedly connected to either “ghost” projects or substandard implementations of infrastructure works.
Reyes stressed that the issuance of an ILBO is “of utmost necessity” to prevent possible evasion of accountability.
“The timely issuance of an ILBO is of utmost necessity to enable the Commission to proceed without delay and to hold those liable accountable to the Filipino people,” he said.
He further urged the DOJ to instruct the Bureau of Immigration to immediately alert the Commission and law enforcement agencies of any attempts by the named individuals to travel abroad.
According to DOJ officials, an ILBO does not restrict a person from leaving the Philippines but merely requires immigration personnel to monitor and report the movements of those under the order.
Romualdez, along with Escudero, Estrada, Villanueva, Revilla, and Binay, have all publicly denied any involvement in the alleged anomalous flood control projects.
