Seven OVP officials under lookout bulletin
Metro Manila, Philippines — The government is monitoring the movements of seven officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) tagged in alleged government fund mismanagement.
The officials placed under an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) are:
- OVP chief of staff Zuleika Lopez
- OVP assistant chief of staff and bids and awards committee chairman Lemuel Ortonio
- OVP administrative and financial services director Rosalynne Sanchez
- OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta
- OVP chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey
- former Education Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda
- former Education special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla signed the ILBO on Wednesday, Nov. 6, after Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua sought its issuance.
Chua is chairperson of the House committee on good government and public accountability, which is investigating the confidential funds of the OVP and the Department of Education, which Duterte headed.
The Justice Department forwarded the ILBO to the Immigration Bureau, which will monitor the officials’ movements.
“The ILBO does not restrict the right to travel. It’s just a monitoring mechanism to see whether a listed individual has traveled or not,” Justice spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said in a statement.
Remulla, meanwhile, said: “No one will be spared from our thrust in delivering justice for all as we guarantee the DOJ's continued cooperation with our partners in Congress in pursuit for truth and justice At the same time, we take this chance to extend our gratitude to the trust and confidence of the House of Representatives for our beloved department."
In a hearing on Tuesday, Chua’s panel learned that Lopez had left the country for Los Angeles, California in the United States on the night of Nov. 4.
The OVP said Lopez’s travel, from Nov. 4 to 16, is “personal and unrelated to her employment” with the office.
The other six officials are still in the country.
NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.
