Fugitive ex-Palawan governor hiding in Thailand?

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. diclosed yesterday that a man identified as Joseph Lim Pe – believed to be the alias of fugitive former Palawan governor Joel Reyes – is reportedly hiding in Phuket, Thailand.

David said that the bureau received information that Lim Pe left Manila on March 18 and spent a few days in Vietnam before proceeding to Phuket.

He left Thailand only once, went to Malaysia but returned and has been staying in Thailand.

“As far as the Immigration is concerned he (Lim Pe) is in Phuket. He left once and went to Malaysia but he went back to Phuket.”

Reyes has been charged with the murder of Gerry Ortega, a veterinarian and host of a radio program in Palawan.

Ortega, an environmentalist and program manager of the Philippine Ecotourism Palawan of the ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan, was shot dead on Jan, 24, 2011 in Puerto Princesa City.

The victim was set to lead the gathering of signatures in Palawan to oppose commercial mining operations in the province.

David clarified that until yesterday BI officials were not certain if Lim Pe is really the former Palawan governor.

The BI chief, however, said that personally he feels 70 percent certain that Lim Pe and Reyes are one and the same person.

“On the passport you would not see Joel Reyes because he is not using that name. Joseph Lim Pe went to Vietnam. The confirmation is in the picture. I believe I am about 70 percent confident that he is Joel Reyes from the picture, but we did not see the real person,” he added.

When asked if the BI has coordinated with Thai authorities, David said that this is no longer an immigration matter. 

“This is a police matter. Somebody must be in charge of this. We would help but tailing (Reyes), we do not have the capability,” said David.

He believed other government agencies such as the Interpol, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are also doing their share in searching for Reyes.

He said that there are no immigration attachés in Philippine embassies in other countries. 

“We do not have an immigration attaché abroad. I hope we would have an Immigration attaché in the new law that is being crafted in Congress,” he said.

The BI learned that Lim Pe left the country via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last March 18 and went to Saigon, Vietnam on board a Cebu Pacific flight.

It was reported that the BI earlier suspended two immigration officers  Rodelio Udarbe and Wesley Gutierrez.

Gutierrez allegedly cleared Lim Pe while Udarbe reportedly facilitated the departure of Lim Pe and the former governor’s brother Mario Reyes.