The STAR informant clarified earlier intelligence reports that Tan flew to Germany last month shortly after arriving in Singapore.
Immigration officials tracking down Tan could not tell what travel papers he is currently carrying.
"We do not know in what name he is traveling but he is able to move from one country to another," the source said.
But Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez said Tan managed to secure Philippine, Chinese and Australian passports in the course of his business.
Gutierrez said the government is still coordinating with foreign governments to determine where Tan is and how to repatriate him to the Philippines.
"Our (BI) people have the immigration officials of other countries as contact persons. We can ask their assistance to bring Tan back to the Philippines," Gutierrez said.
She said the BI, which is under the DOJ, is already in contact with foreign governments in tracking the fugitive businessman who fled amid a court trial for his involvement in a stock price manipulation scam that almost caused the collapse of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
"We’re still coordinating with people who can help us in verifying the reports," Gutierrez said.
Tan arrived in Australia on March 10, 2001 on board Royal Brunei Airlines using a Philippine passport despite a hold departure order for him dated Feb. 14, 2001. The discovery of his presence in Australia, where he was reported to have obtained a resident visa, led to the cancellation of his passport and his deportation.
Tan, once an influential businessman in the administration of ousted President Joseph Estrada, is wanted for the BW Resources insider trading scam, the country’s biggest securities fraud.
Philippine authorities were unaware that Tan had slipped out of the country until it was reported that he was facing charges in Australia for illegal political campaign contribution.
Before Philippine authorities could act, Tan left Australia for Singapore and immediately fled to another country.
As to when and how he managed to slip out is now the subject of investigation by the immigration bureau as it appears on record that he had not boarded any commercial plane out of the country based on passenger manifests since 2001.
Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo told The STAR that it is likely that Tan left using a private yacht as this means of transport could not be easily detected. – With Aurea Calica