Mikey, wife placed on Immigration watch list

(Updated 3:20 p.m.) The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday ordered the Bureau of Immigration to place on its watch list Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo and his wife, Angela, who were indicted for alleged multiple violations of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. In Watch List Order No. 394, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the move stemmed from her department's approval of the filing of the tax evasion suit against the couple. The order will be in effect for 60 days. Mikey, however, described De Lima’s order as “laughable," saying that he and his wife were not flight risks. "We faced the complaints when they were filed by actively participating in the preliminary investigation," he said in a statement issued Wednesday. He added that he will never flee from the charges and leave his congressional duty behind. "We have no intention to leave the country because we have not done anything wrong," he said. Legal safeguard Speaking to reporters, De Lima said she issued the order "since this involves a high-profile personality with resources to possible evade the arms of the law." She, however, clarified that she is not indicating that Mikey and his wife intend to flee the country while the Court of Tax Appeals holds the trial on their tax evasion case. "I'm just saying it's one of the legal safeguards," De Lima said. An individual placed on the Immigration watch list must first seek government clearance before leaving the country. On the other hand, individuals who have hold departure orders issued against them are automatically barred from leaving the country. Tax case Mikey is the eldest son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is herself facing a string of plunder charges before the DOJ and the Office of the Ombudsman. De Lima said that within the day, the DOJ will file before the Court of Tax Appeals the criminal information against Mikey and Angela. Mikey is facing three counts of failure to file income tax returns (ITRs) for 2007, 2008, and 2009 and another three counts of failure to supply correct and accurate information on his ITRs for 2004, 2005, and 2006. Meanwhile, Angela is facing seven counts of violation of failure to file ITRs for the years 2003 to 2009. De Lima said Mikey and Angela's right to file an appeal, either through a motion for reconsideration or a petition for review, does not preclude the DOJ from filing the case in court. "The filing of anything [any appeal] would not defer the filing of information," said De Lima. - VVP/KBK/RSJ, GMA News