Vice President Jejomar Binay delivers his speech during the launching of the United Nationalist Alliance as a political party on Wednesday at the Makati Coliseum. Binay lambasted the Aquino administration anew and promised alternatives offered by his party. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday admitted that two of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s close aides who are wanted by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee may have fled the country without passing through the immigration.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a member of the subcommittee, earlier disclosed that Binay’s longtime financial officer, Gerry Limlingan, and his personal secretary, Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy, have left the country amid the corruption allegations against their boss.
BI spokesperson Elaine Tan, who was present during Tuesday’s hearing, said that as per Immigration records, Limlingan’s latest arrival in the country was more than 10 years ago, or on October 17, 2003.
Baloloy’s latest arrival, meanwhile, was on September 6, 2014.
But Tan was quick to clarify that the BI only holds jurisdiction over “formal ports and exits.”
“It’s a possibility. We’re not discounting that,” Tan said when Trillanes asked if it was possible that Limlingan and Baloloy left without passing through the BI.
Both Limlingan and Baloloy are listed as beneficiaries of a bank account of a construction company that secured at least P180 million worth of projects with the city government of Makati.
This was disclosed in the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s petition for a freeze order on certain accounts associated with Binay. The court has since granted the freeze order on 242 accounts.
Meanwhile, Vice President Binay was again a no-show at the 22nd subcommittee hearing.
Binay is in Pangasinan for the provincial launch of the United Nationalist Alliance, his political party for the 2016 elections, where he is set to run for president. (MNS)