President Benigno S. Aquino III asks Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of Sulu to withdraw his supporters in Sabah to end the standoff peacefully during the Press Briefing at the New Executive Building, Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (February 26). In photo is Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday directed Immigration officials to be on the lookout for the three Chinese drug suspects who were apparently rescued by armed men while on their way to a court hearing in Cavite last week.
Still unaccounted for are Li Lan Yan alias Jackson Dy, his wife Wang Li na, and Li Tian Hua. All three were “rescued” by around 20 armed people in Trece Martires, Cavite on February 20.
“[You are] directed to instruct all Immigration officers to be on the lookout/alert for the above-named individuals should any of them pass through immigration counters in any of our international airports and/or seaports, and to detain and turn them over to the proper authorities,” De Lima said in her lookout bulletin order.
At the same time, De Lima instructed Immigration officials to coordinate with police in gathering additional information on the drug suspects, including their full names, aliases, dates of birth, places of birth, copies of their passports or any travel documents, and their latest known pictures.
The Justice chief said Immigration officers should also coordinate with other offices and agencies, including airlines, to immediately detect if the Chinese nationals are trying to leave the country.
De Lima said authorities can still intercept the suspects since international passengers are customarily required to check-in a specified number of hours before their flight. De Lima has earlier ordered a probe on the escape.
Police said the group fled in a white van with plate number WTT 544. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Barangay Aguado in Trece Martires City.
The three were charged for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. Four people, including a barangay captain, have already been arrested for allegedly helping in the Chinese nationals’ escape.
A remittance center receipt found inside the group’s abandoned getaway vehicle led investigators to suspect Rodel Cabongga, according to Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona.
Police said Cabongga confessed to be the lookout of the group and accompanying another suspect, identified as Ariel Bondaon alias Bokbok, in visiting one of the three Chinese drug suspects last February 16 at the Cavite provincial jail.
The other three arrested suspects, meanwhile, were identified as Brgy. Captain Leovino Fontanilla, Emiliano Quilicol and Rene Bersales.
The four jailguards tasked to secure the three Chinese drug suspects are also being investigated for the incident. (MNS)