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Guo sister, companion back in Ph after arrest
By Nidz Godino
“They were considered illegal aliens by Indonesian immigration as they are wanted in the Philippines,” Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco said two companions of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo , her sister Sheila and Lucky South 99 incorporator Cassandra Li Ong arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on board Philippine Airlines flight PR540 landed at 4:18 in the afternoon yesterday.
Escorted by four female Philippine immigration officials, Guo and Ong were met at the airport by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago and Tansingco.
The two were brought to immigration counter for processing and whisked away by personnel, first to BI for medical and inquest procedures, then to NBI headquarters for questioning and debriefing.
Sheila Guo will be turned over to custody of the Senate while Ong will be under House of Representatives, in accordance with their respective warrants.
Indonesian immigration officials apprehended the pair at Mega Mall Batam Centre in Riau, Indonesia on Aug. 20.
While Alice Guo was initially believed to have entered Indonesia with them via cruise ship from Singapore, she apparently evaded authorities.
Upon learning that Guo siblings traveled to Batam island last Aug. 18, BI said they immediately coordinated with their Indonesian counterparts, who initiated investigation on subjects’ whereabouts.
BI also learned that male Singaporean national allegedly assisted four persons, reportedly including Guo’s brother Wesley, in booking their stay in Indonesia.
Sheila Guo and Ong were allegedly about to leave Batam Island when Indonesian investigation team from Directorate of Wasdakim intercepted them and initiated their return to the Philippines.
Guos and Ong flew to Indonesia while under investigation for illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operator hubs in Porac, Pampanga and Bamban were subjects of active warrants issued by Senate and Congress.
Santiago confirmed they are now coordinating with International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to find Alice Guo.
They have plans to request blue notice from Interpol to help determine Guo’s whereabouts. While investigation is ongoing, they have not confirmed if Guo is still in the Philippines.
Philippines has worked with Indonesian authorities for return of Sheila Guo and business associate Ong, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.said yesterday.
“You know what I know, that they were intercepted in various places in Singapore and Indonesia…and, we are now of course in coordination with Indonesian government and their agencies, arranging for them to be brought back,” the President told reporters in Malacañang.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Sheila Guo and Ong will be under NBI custody for questioning.
“We have to debrief them…we have to know what happened…we have to process them first… legislative investigation should come later…we have to process everybody in accordance with law,” he said.
On the issue of canceling passports, Remulla said Philippine government cannot summarily do this as such documents are “vested with rights.”
“It was not found advisable also to treat it summarily because if passports are canceled immediately then how can you make them travel back to the country,” he stressed.
For her part, Sen. Risa Hontiveros commended Indonesian authorities for immediate arrest of Guo and Ong. Hontiveros looks forward to their attendance in Senate’s next hearing on Tuesday.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian expressed confidence that with apprehension of Guo and Ong by Indonesian authorities, “it is only matter of time before Guo Hua Ping, aka Alice Guo, is brought to justice.”
Senate President Francis Escudero had already spoken to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan for arrangements on custody of the individuals involved.
“Senate Secretary and Sgt-at-Arms will coordinate with BI and office of Senator Risa to enforce and effect warrant of arrest issued by Senate vs. Sheila Guo and detain her at Senate,” Escudero said.
Escudero said OSAA “would effect arrest of Sheila Guo at the airport and bring her to Senate detention facility.”
Ancan also told Senate President that they have “made coordination with HOR-SAA (House of Representatives-Sgt-At-Arms).”
Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas said they will take custody of Cassandra Ong. PNP will arrest her at NAIA then bring her to HOR where she will be detained.”
Alice Guo is staying in Batam City, Indonesia based on latest information received by Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), which is tracking her movement.
Citing information from their foreign counterparts, PAOCC spokesman Winston John Casio said Guo arrived in Batam last Sunday by ferry from Singapore.
“In Indonesia, the latest sighting was in Batam on Tuesday,” Casio said “we need to apply for Interpol blue notice to track her location, movement as person of interest in criminal investigation of sovereign member country.”
PAOCC and PNP have asked justice department to reject motion of Guo to reopen investigation and admit her counter-affidavit on qualified trafficking complaint lodged against her and others.
In their comment,opposition filed before DOJ, complainants expressed doubts that Guo personally appeared before notary public in San Jose del Monte on Aug. 14.
They noted that Guo did not personally appear before prosecutors to submit her motion and counter-affidavit.
Through her legal counsel, Guo yesterday asked Commission on Elections (Comelec) for additional 10 days to answer misrepresentation charges against her.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia previously said preliminary investigation into criminal liability of Guo will proceed despite reports that she had slipped out of the country.
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