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NBI, Immigration Guo’s escape probe
By Nidz Godino
“I am issuing this final warning against erring BI personnel who may have had participation in escape of Guo despite strict restrictions imposed by our government, it’s either you come out and unveil the truth or wait until I personally get to the bottom of this where heads will roll and all hell will break loose,” Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered investigation into escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo after she was reported to have slipped out of the country undetected.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Immigration (BI) to conduct “thorough investigation” into embattled mayor’s escape.
Last month, Justice department ordered immigration lookout bulletin on Guo, days after her reported escape to Malaysia on July 17.
Guo’s escape was first revealed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday, saying that former official traveled to Singapore to meet her parents Lin Wen Yi and Guo JianZhong.
On Tuesday afternoon, Immigration bureau confirmed Guo is now in Indonesia.
Stephen David, one of Guo’s lawyers, is confident that dismissed official is still in the country.
“We, as her counsel, have always relied on assurances provided by our client that she is still in the Philippines…thus, without further evidence to prove that she has indeed left the country, our reliance in good faith on assurances by our client remains,” David said in message to reporters.
On Monday, DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said there were reported sightings of Guo on July 18.
He also mentioned that embattled mayor submitted motion, along with counter-affidavit to DOJ on Friday, which had been notarized on August 14 in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.
Counter-affidavit was in response to non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge filed against her, related to Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) hub raid in her locality.
Although they waived their right to respond to charges by failing to appear at preliminary investigation on June 3, Clavano said Guo’s counter-affidavit filed in Bulacan is an appeal for its acceptance.
“Meaning motion in effect is begging for us to accept her defense,” Clavano said in message to media.
In resolution dated August 12, Ombudsman removed Guo from office as it was found “remained to be real, true and actual President of Baofu Land Development Inc., and stands to benefit from continued operations Hongsheng Gaming and Zun Yuan Technology Inc.”
In speech on Tuesday, Hontiveros called for cancellation of Guo’s Philippine passport after it was revealed that dismissed mayor was using it during her escape.
“It cannot be denied that this is indeed her because it matches exactly with her Philippine passport,” Hontiveros said in speech.
If Guo’s passport is canceled, she cannot exit or enter any other country.
In a message to media, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said DFA will cancel dismissed mayor’s passport through a court order.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said petition for cancelation of Guo’s certificate of live birth filed by Office of the Solicitor General last month will be “key factor in cancellation of her passport.”
It should be noted that birth certificate issued by Philippine Statistics Authority is one of requirements for individuals who apply for Philippine passport.
In addition to trafficking case, Guo is also facing tax evasion charges filed by Bureau of Internal Revenue on August 14.
Charges stem from her failure to pay or file capital gains tax and documentary stamp tax amounting to P500,000 related to transfer of her shares in Baofu.
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