Singer Chris Brown was finally cleared to leave the Philippines late Friday after he was temporarily barred from exiting the country over a dispute with a religious sect. He posted a video on Instagram to let his fans know that he was leaving.
In the clip, he is heard saying, "Manila it was fun, I love you all man!" as he walked with an entourage to board a private plane at an airport hangar. He added, "Party tonight!"
The "Ayo" singer was not allowed to leave the country earlier this week after he performed at a concert in Manila on Tuesday, July 21. It was reported that he was barred from leaving the country due to a complaint filed by Maligaya Development Corporation, which is owned by one of the country's most influential religious groups, the Iglesia ni Cristo.
According to MDC, Brown and his Canadian promoter John Michael Pio Roda, backed out of a New Year's Eve concert in 2014 after being paid in full for a $1 million contract. The organizers said that at the time, they were told that the singer had lost his passport and could not make it to the show. The AP says that the legal counsel for Iglesia ni Cristo is seeking the government's assistance in bringing around a criminal complaint for fraud against Brown and Roda.
Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Elaine Tan confirmed to GMA News Online that Brown was able to secure an emigration clearance certificate after being placed on the government immigration lookout bulletin in connection with the complaint, saying that he has no legal obligations in the country and that he is free to leave. Tan told the website that the ECC was issued on Friday at around 4:30 p.m. after verifying that the singer had no other derogatory record. She added that Brown personally appeared before the Bureau of Immigration office to get his ECC.
