THE Justice Department yesterday placed on the immigration watchlist order (WLO) former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo, former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr., and 38 others charged with alleged electoral sabotage in the 2007 national election.

The WLO, which will be valid for a period of 60 days unless terminated or extended, was issued several days after a DoJ-Comelec fact-finding team recommended the preliminary investigation of the respondents to the complaint filed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III.

Aside from Mrs. Arroyo, her husband and Abalos, also covered by the WLO are former acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra; Michael Abas, Region 9 Comelec director; Col. Reuben Basiao, Romy Dayday,  Jeremy Javier, a certain Mayor Joey Leaban, and a  certain Capt. Peter Reyes, of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP); lawyer Jaime Paz, former chief of staff of Abalos; former poll supervisors Lilian Radam and Yogie Martirizar, respectively of South and North Cotabato;  and Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr., former governor of Maguindanao.

Also on the watchlist are Lintang Bedol, former provincial election supervisor of Maguindanao; Norie Unas, former provincial administrator of Maguindanao; Nicodemo Ferrer, former Comelec commissioner and then chairman of Task Force Maguindanao; and a certain Butch, alleged aide of Unas; Bong Serrano, of the Pasay City Administrator’s Office; Gabby Claudio, former Palace spokesman; and John Oliver Leaban, of ISAFP.

The DoJ also placed on the BI’s watchlist 19 election officers identified as Estelita Orbase, Elisa Gasmin, Elsa Atinen, Saliao Amba, Magsaysay Mohamad, Salonga Edzela, Ragah Ayunan, Susan Cabanban, Russam Mabang, Asuncion Corazon Reniedo, Nena Alid, Ma. Susan Albao, Rohaida Khalid, Araw Cao, Jeehan Nur, Alice Lim, Norijean Hangkal, Christian Roan Dalope and Maceda Abo.

“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Immigration, Manila, is hereby ordered to include in the Bureau of Immigration’s watch list, the names of the above-named persons,” the DOJ order stated.