AN IMMIGRATION Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) has been issued against former budget secretary Florencio B. Abad, former public works secretary Rogelio L. Singson and 41 others alleged to be involved in a so-called Road Right of Way scam that has supposedly cost the government P8.7 billion.

The ILBO dated Nov. 24 and approved on Monday by Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II read in part: “Considering the gravity of the possible offenses which may have been committed, there is a strong probability that they may attempt to place themselves beyond the reach of the legal processes of this Department by leaving the country.”

“We thus deem the issuance of an ILBO against the subject persons prudent in order to at least monitor the itineraries of their flight, travel, and/or whereabouts,” it added.

“The syndicate was allegedly led by Ms. Wilma Mamburam, Col. Chino Mamburam, Nelson Ti and Mercedita Dumlao, in connivance with other government officials and private individuals,” the ILBO further read, adding:

“They have been allegedly operating particularly in General Santos City wherein the group would collect ‘just compensation’ for the road right-of-way using fake land titles under fake claimants.”

Messrs. Singson and Abad are listed, respectively, as numbers 21 and 22 on the ILBO.

Mr. Aguirre bared last week the alleged scam which he said a witness could attest to. On Monday, he held a press briefing presenting the witness, Roberto S. Catapang Jr., who, he said, has been placed on the Witness Protection Program.

Mr. Catapang, for his part, said: “Hindi ko sila na-meet (Messrs. Singson and Abad) pero may documents to show na alam nila ang transaction.” (I did not meet them but there are documents to show that they know about the [scam]).

The government witness also presented a Dec. 23, 2013, letter of request by Mr. Singson and approved by Mr. Abad, in connection with a payment of P500 million for 18 fake land titles.

“Dec. 23, sinulat ni Secretary Singson, inapprove agad ni Secretary Abad,” Mr. Catapang said. (Dec. 23, Secretary Singson wrote a letter, approved right away by Secretary Abad.)

Mr. Aguirre for his part noted the said amount’s approval four days after its request. “Unusual. Christmas Time. Di nila hinintay bagong taon,” he said. (They didn’t wait for the new year.)

Mr. Catapang also named an in-law of former president Benigno S. C. Aquino III. — Andrea Louise E. San Juan

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR