The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday dismissed allegations that a supposed aide of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and his pregnant wife were secretly flown out of the country after being beaten by government operatives.
“Upon initial verification, we have found no record of any departure incident involving the individual in question,” the BI said in a television interview.
The bureau added that its immigration counters use passport readers capable of detecting counterfeit travel documents but will conduct a deeper review.
“Nonetheless, we are conducting a thorough review of the matter and will submit our findings to the DOJ (Department of Justice) and other concerned authorities,” it said.
The claims stemmed from former Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, who alleged that Co’s aide John Paul Estrada and his wife were assaulted by NBI personnel and “active” government operatives, then flown to Chile to prevent Estrada from testifying in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.
The NBI called the accusations “unfounded” and “unsupported by evidence.”
Estrada’s name was first raised by retired Marine Sgt. Orly Guteza, Co’s former security aide, who alleged Estrada routinely received cash-stuffed suitcases for Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.