Lookout order issued following tycoon’s flight

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice ( DOJ) on Monday issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order ( ILBO) on gaming tycoon Yin Lok “Jack” Lam, six days after his confirmed departure and two days after President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order for his arrest, as disclosed last Saturday by Philippine National Police ( PNP) Chief Director- General Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II’s memorandum to Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente read in part: “Considering the gravity of the offenses allegedly committed and apparent reports that he has already left the country, there is a strong possibility that he may attempt to place himself beyond the reach of the legal processes of this government by leaving the country.”

The ILBO was issued to “at least monitor the itineraries of their flight, travel, and/or whereabouts, or if warranted, effectuate his immediate arrest pursuant to the directives of the President should the subject return to the country.”

Mr. Lam, who flew to Hong Kong on Nov. 29, has left behind for now his gaming operations at the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino, where 1,310 Chinese nationals were arrested in a Nov. 24 raid in connection with a crackdown on online gambling. Authorities said the Chinese were also illegals.

A lawyer for Mr. Lam, explaining his seeking out Mr. Aguirre two days after the raid, denied the justice secretary’s allegations of bribery on the tycoon’s part.

Mr. dela Rosa for his part said in a press conference on Monday: “

( We will wait for him to come back here).” He added: “

coordinate Hongkong, Macao o China enforcement agencies right now

warrant of arrest against so

Interpol red notice, transaction with other foreign enforcement agencies is via Interpol ( We wait, if we can’t be able to coordinate with the Hongkong, Macao or Chinese enforcement agencies because right now we don’t have a warrant of arrest issued against him so we can’t ask the Interpol to add him in the red notice, because all [ communication] we have with other foreign enforcement agencies is via Interpol).”

No charges have been filed as yet against the tycoon, but Justice Undersecretary Erickson H. Balmes said criminal procedure rules provide that arrest without warrant is allowed when “the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit an offense.”

The Bureau of Immigration ( BI) in a statement on Monday said it had canceled Mr. Lam’s investor’s visa. “It was learned that Lam uses a Subic- Clark Investor’s Visa ( SCIV), a special visa issued by the government to foreign investors based at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga, which is now subject of cancellation proceedings before the Bureau,” the statement said.

Mr. Morente also said he had instructed BI personnel in international airports and seaports “to effect the arrest of [ Mr.] Lam if he is seen arriving or leaving the country.” —