“Even flying schools can fly persons out of the Philippines,” said Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, saying immigration officers inspect private hangars upon request.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are investigating the possible illegal departure of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, following reports that no official records exist of his exit from the country. The investigation centers on the possibility that Roque may have left the Philippines using a private plane, bypassing official immigration channels.
Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez confirmed the ongoing probe and highlighted concerns regarding private hangars and ports, which could potentially be used for unauthorized departures.
“The big issue here is the private hangars and ports that could also be used,” Vasquez said in an interview with dzBB. He pointed out that the Civil Aeronautics Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) holds jurisdiction over private hangars, making it challenging to detect unauthorized flights unless there is a request for inspection.
Vasquez emphasized that this is not the first time such a situation has arisen. He referenced the case of Alice Guo, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, who managed to leave the country undetected in July, evading a Senate arrest warrant.
Guo, who had allegedly been involved in POGO-related criminal activities, was later caught in Indonesia and brought back to the Philippines in September. Vasquez noted that even flying schools have been known to help people exit the country without proper immigration checks. "Even flying schools can fly persons out of the Philippines," he added.
The BI’s legal team is also considering the possibility of filing charges against Roque for his alleged unauthorized departure. Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado stated that official BI records show no recent attempts by Roque to leave the country through formal immigration channels.
“It’s impossible that he left through formal ports,” Viado said. This has led authorities to suspect that Roque may have used a private flight to avoid detection.
Roque, who is currently involved in a qualified human trafficking case linked to the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub Lucky South 99 Corp. in Porac, Pampanga, confirmed that he traveled to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to have his counteraffidavit notarized. However, his admission has raised further questions about how he managed to leave the Philippines without immigration authorities being aware.
The DOJ had issued an immigration lookout bulletin order on August 6, 2024 against Roque and 11 others tied to the controversial POGO hub, which was raided by authorities in June for alleged human trafficking activities. The case has raised alarms about the role of POGOs in transnational crime, with some lawmakers suggesting that the POGO industry may have helped Roque slip through immigration controls.
Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval emphasized the need to enhance the country’s legal framework to address cases of individuals leaving the Philippines through unauthorized channels.
“There is no specific law that covers people, Filipinos, going out of the country. Walang punitive action ang Filipinos going out of the country illegally (There is currently no specific law that penalizes Filipinos for exiting the country illegally),” Sandoval explained, noting the absence of measures in such situations.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who has also been involved in investigations into the POGO industry, expressed concern over the apparent weakness in border control.
"I hope this is not an ‘Alice Guo part two’ because you cannot take a boat all the way to the Middle East. It’s impossible," Gatchalian said, drawing a comparison between Roque’s potential escape and Guo’s evasive journey to Malaysia, which allegedly involved multiple boats to evade detection. Gatchalian has called for a formal investigation into Roque’s travel, stressing that the BI’s failure to monitor and regulate departures is a serious issue that could undermine efforts to combat transnational crime.
The senator also noted that Roque’s case is part of a troubling pattern of inadequate border controls that could allow criminal elements, including those involved in POGOs, to freely move across borders. “I’m looking at this seriously, not because of Harry Roque alone, but because this already happened to Alice Guo. Maybe this is happening regularly,” Gatchalian added.
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