BI denies hold departure order vs Robin Padilla

MANILA, Philippines — There has been no hold departure order issued against actor Robin Padilla, the Bureau of Immigration clarified on Tuesday.

Padilla took to Instagram to lament that he was barred by the Immigration from boarding his flight to China due to a hold departure order. He was supposed to attend an event in Shandong province scheduled from September 12 to 15.

But Immigration Spokesperson Atty. Antonette Mangrobang clarified in a text message to Philstar.com that there was no active HDO issued against Padilla.

She added: "The BI Port Operations Division does not have any record nor report that Robinhood Padilla went [through] immigration procedure in the last 7 days nor do we have any record that he was not allowed to depart recently."

Padilla, a supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, decried that he may have been prevented to leave the country due to his dragon tattoo, a photo of which was posted on his Instagram account, @robinhoodpadilla.

"Baka pati ako ay triad na rin," Padilla said, adding: "Naku po baka ipatawag na ako sa Senado aba'y hindi ko kayo tatanggihan game ako dyan."

Tattoos have been in headlines recently due to the alleged dragon tattoo of presidential son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte. The said dragon tattoo, which was said to be on the back of the younger Duterte, would supposedly connect him to a notorious Asian crime ring, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said in a Senate hearing last week.

Mangrobang, however, asserted that "the BI does not have any record of any active HDO issued against Robinhood Padilla."

"We wish to reach out to him for details and would like to know more about the incident," Mangrobang added.

An HDO, according to the Immigration website, may be issued by a Regional Trial Court when a criminal case is pending.

Padilla was convicted for illegal possession of firearms in 1994, and has remained behind bars until former President Fidel Ramos granted him pardon in 1997. He was granted absolute pardon by Duterte in November last year, allowing him to regain his civil and political rights such as to travel abroad.