Immigration places Zaldy Co, 15 others on heightened alert list

National

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has placed former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co and 15 others under heightened alert as authorities moved to enforce arrest orders issued against them.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the names of the involved personalities have been entered into the agency’s centralized derogatory database, allowing frontline officers at airports and seaports to immediately flag and verify their identities.

Viado said immigration personnel have been instructed to coordinate promptly with the Philippine National Police once any of the individuals are intercepted at the country’s ports. He assured the public that the BI remains closely aligned with law enforcement agencies to ensure the proper execution of warrants.

The agency revealed that Co and three others ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan are currently outside the country.

Records show Co departed for Singapore last Aug. 6 while Public Works Planning and Design Division

officer-in-charge Montrexis Tamayo flew to Qatar on Nov. 15. Sunwest Inc. president and board chair Aderma Angelie Alcazar traveled to Australia on Oct. 2 while Sunwest treasurer Cesar Buenaventura left for the UAE on the same day.

Co’s name was added to the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order in September, while the three others were recently included. Their listing ensures authorities will be alerted should they attempt reentry or departure.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)