Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has directed Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco to enforce an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against suspended Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Bantag and deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, the suspects in the killing of broadcast journalist Percy Lapid and an inmate under their watch.
The purpose of ILBO is to monitor Bantag and Zulueta but no means of stopping the two to leave the Philippines, according to the DOJ.
Based on the law, an actual hold departure order needs to be validly issued by a court where an individual is charged, to prevent an individual from leaving the country.
The National Prosecution Service, Philippine National Police, and National Bureau of Immigration already received copies of ILBO.
Previously, Bantag questioned the jurisdiction of the DOJ prosecution panel that conducted a preliminary investigation against him, Zulueta, and other inmates involved in Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa's slay on October 3 and the subsequent death of inmate Jun Villamor at the New Bilibid Prison Hospital in Muntinlupa.
Self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial, Villamor was allegedly one of those who brokered the murder contract to kill the broadcast journalist.
In his argument, Bantag said that the case against him may only be investigated by the Ombudsman since he is a high-ranking official.
