The Bureau of Immigration refuted reports that personnel or officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) may have assisted former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to leave the country.
Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said more than one person may have facilitated Roque to leave the country, because it is a concerted effort and very difficult to set up.
The BI earlier said that the former spokesman of then President Rodrigo Duterte left the country through illegal means since there is no record of his departure in the bureau’s computer system.
BI Commissioner Jioel Anthony Viado said it is impossible that he left via formal ports because his name is in the BI’s Lookout Bulletin, and he is a very well-known public figure.
“With CCTV cameras in major international ports, it is highly unlikely for him to use said areas,” he added.
Meanwhile, the bureau said that the country’s laws must be strengthened against individuals who leave the country through illegal means.
“Because 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,” the BI said.
