NBI urged to locate ex-Palawan governor

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has asked the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in locating former Palawan governor Joel Reyes, who is believed to have already left the country and is now hiding in Thailand.

BI spokesman Antonette Mangrobang yesterday said that they are coordinating with the NBI and have provided it with all their reports on Reyes, who was tagged in the killing of broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega in January 2011.

“There are certain investigative works of which we have no capability and we are not authorized to do that. We have no authority to subpoena, this is beyond the jurisdiction of the BI,” Mangrobang said.

She added that the BI also needs the cooperation of the Interpol Division of the NBI, specifically since “all the subjects are Filipinos.”

Reyes is believed to have used the name Joseph Lim Pe when he left the country last March 18, via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.  

He and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, reportedly went to Saigon, Vietnam on board a Cebu Pacific flight.

It was reported that the BI earlier suspended two of their Immigration Officers, Rodelio Udarbe and Wesley Gutierrez.

Gutierrez allegedly cleared Lim Pe while Udarbe reportedly facilitated the departure of Lim Pe and Mario Reyes.

But Lim Pe reportedly only stayed in Vietnam a few days before going to Phuket, Thailand. He briefly left Thailand to go to Malaysia but later returned to Thailand.