EDITORIAL – Escort service

If the bad guys can’t be kept out, they should at least be prevented from leaving. Amid reports that the two Malaysian masterminds of the 2002 terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia are in Mindanao, the Bureau of Immigration announced yesterday that it had placed the two fugitives on its watch list.

There is a strong incentive for the two men to leave Mindanao at this time: the US government is dangling a $10-million bounty for the capture of Dulmatin plus $1 million for the other fugitive, Umar Patek. Both men are wanted for the deaths of 202 people, nearly half of them Australians, in nightclub bombings in Bali exactly three years ago today. US and Philippine military officials as well as the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front have confirmed that the two have been given sanctuary in Mindanao by Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani.

That the two bombers managed to slip into Mindanao is not surprising. Neither will it be a big surprise if they manage to sneak out. The latest announcement by the Bureau of Immigration to tighten its watch in Mindanao is impressive, but the BI cannot even prevent the departure of foreigners on trial for kidnapping. There are indications that immigration personnel even facilitated the deportation of Zhang Du, one of the Chinese nationals on trial for the kidnapping of Jacky Tiu. Reports said Zhang was even escorted by immigration personnel in his departure. BI personnel also came under fire several years ago for the deportation of 11 Indians arrested on drug charges.

With immigration personnel allowing kidnappers and drug dealers to leave the country, there are fears that the courtesy will also be extended even to wanted terrorists. This dereliction of duty can only be prevented if the government comes down hard on those responsible for the anomalous deportation of undesirable aliens. So far the government seems to be waiting for the furor over Zhang’s deportation to just die down. Unless someone gets punished for this obstruction of justice, we are sure to see more accused felons skipping town, possibly with escort services provided by certain immigration personnel. And those felons may include terrorists.