Exit plan
Lately, law enforcers have struggled to bring high-profile personalities to justice.
Businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang remains at large over the disappearance of sabungeros while former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag also has yet to face the music over the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid and inmate Jun Villarin.
Reports have it that police attempted to serve a warrant of arrest against Bantag at his hideout at Clifford Olivas Poultry Farm in Sitio Alupapan in Lamut, Ifugao on Sunday, but Bantag was nowhere to be found.
Of course, who can forget Cassandra Ong and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who are both facing non-bailable qualified human trafficking charges tied to the Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator hub raid in Porac, Pampanga?
But the biggest names among those trying to evade the long arms of the law are Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and former Congressman Zaldy Co.
Dela Rosa, who has a pending arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over his involvement in the bloody War on Drugs during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is said to be hiding in Mindanao while Co, the central figure in the flood-control scandal, is believed to be in Europe.
The Department of Interior and Local Government had already launched a manhunt operation against Dela Rosa with a bounty of P50 million. Wow!
Why put a bounty when you have the whole government resources and assets behind you to put Dela Rosa and other fugitives behind bars? Does it mean that the law enforcers are struggling to do their job of locating these fugitives?
Anyway, if our law enforcers continue to sleep in the noodle house, a prominent sports personality could soon join this growing list.
According to my bubuyog, this flamboyant — yet very controversial — sports executive was in Dubai last week to apply for a golden visa as part of his exit plan to avert the massive scandal that he is facing here.
Securing a golden visa isn’t cheap.
For starters, a golden visa is an official residency-by-investment program that allows foreign nationals and their families to obtain long-term or permanent residency rights in a country by making a qualifying financial investment. Applicants for a golden visa are using it to obtain a stronger passport that will give them travel flexibility while eliminating the usual restrictions and uncertainties tied to standard residence visas.
To secure a 10-year golden visa in the United Arab Emirates, an applicant must purchase a property worth AED 2 million — or roughly P35 million. They must also have another AED 2 million as a fixed bank deposit and must own a business enterprise with a capital of AED 2 million that yields AED 250,000 in federal taxes to the government.
If an applicant is a skilled professional, he must have a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000 — or more than P520,000 — to qualify.
Tough, isn’t it? But this sports executive is relentless. He will happily open his wallet and pay the price of a golden visa while using his international network to ensure its approval.
In fact, he sought the support of an Emirati – a top federation official in the UAE – to endorse his application for a golden visa in exchange for the hosting rights of a major international event. Even an influential powerbroker from the Asian federation is said to be helping, making sure that this local sports executive will get the sanctuary he needs in the bustling city right at the heart of the Arabian desert.
My bubuyog said the sports executive is moving fast as criminal cases against him are now ready for filing. Once it has been filed, a warrant of arrest and, probably, a hold departure order will follow, making it tougher for him to move around.
I hope these law enforcers really do their job and file the cases as soon as possible.
Because if not, they are facing the risk of having a Zaldy Co or Bato dela Rosa in Philippine sports.