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Alice Guo may still be in Indon — BI
By Nidz Godino
“Last monitoring was, they are still in Indonesia…tracking on them is still ongoing and their teams are ready for any operation,” said Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Dana Sandoval, referring to Indonesia’s immigration authorities following arrest of her sister and alleged cohort in Indonesia, BI expressed belief dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo is still in the same country, along with her brother Wesley.
Indonesian authorities arrested Guo’s sister Sheila and Cassandra Li Ong, incorporator of Lucky South 99, identified as Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), at the Mega Mall Batam Centre in Riau last Aug. 20.
Sandoval maintained two, along with Guo’s other siblings Alice and Wesley, left country “illegally” as Philippine passport of Sheila Guo she said was “acquired fraudulently” – did not bear any mark or annotation from BI.
Sheila “entered Sabah, Malaysia, which further solidifies our theory that they illegally crossed into Malaysia,” Sandoval stressed.
She also said Sheila and Ong tried to flee Batam Island after entering it on ferry last Aug. 18.
BI spokesperson added Sheila Guo carried Chinese passport, valid until 2031, “with different name and different date of birth, entirely different identity.”
Immigration authorities have sued her for being undesirable alien, subject to deportation, she said.
BI is convinced siblings Alice, Sheila and Wesley Guo, as well as Ong, left the country together, based on luggage tag located bearing name of Alice Guo, as well as matches in their travel history.
Sandoval said BI is “very positive” Indonesian immigration would be able to track down and help bring Alice and Wesley Guo back to the Philippines.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights said Singaporean national who used to head illegal POGO hub assisted Guo and her companion in Indonesia, according to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesman Winston John Casio.
In a statement, Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights said Singaporean identified as ZJ booked four rooms at Harris Hotel Batam Center for Guo, her siblings and Ong.
“From results of checking CCTV ,closed-circuit television, it was found ZJ was party who helped them to make hotel reservations,” Indonesia’s director of immigration supervision and enforcement Safar Godam was quoted as saying in statement.
Casio said ZJ is Zhang Jie, former president of Lucky South 99, illegal POGO hub in Bamban raided by law enforcement agencies last June due to human trafficking and other illegal activities.
With her sister and companion now under custody, “it’s matter of time” before dismissed mayor is arrested and repatriated to the Philippines, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
In interview with Senate reporters via Zoom, Gatchalian said based on information he received, Guo is in Batam, Indonesia. “That was her last reported location. It will be very difficult for her to move around Indonesia,” he added.
Details about Alice Guo’s whereabouts and circumstances around their escape on July 18 would be among main issues to be pursued at public hearing of joint committees on justice, human rights; women, children, family relations and gender equality and on public services on Tuesday.
“I’ve been repeatedly saying this: Bamban (POGO) was built with money from unknown sources…if you look at the income statements of Guo-related companies, there are no earnings,” Gatchalian said.
He also said Sheila played “very important role” in the companies, being their treasurer or corporate secretary.
“In Hong Sheng Zun Yuan, Sheila was not there but then again where did funding come from…what role does Sheila play?”
He also said Cassandra was corporate secretary of Whirlwind Corp., owner of the land on which Lucky South 99 was built. “She is representative of Lucky South 99 and she went to PAGCOR ,Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp) as representative…there is new dimension before because there is angle,” Gatchalian said.
He also said fact that Sheila and Cassandra were traveling together should attest to closeness of Ong to Guo familiy.
Gatchalian also said officials of BI and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines would be asked on Tuesday to explain why Guo and her companions were able to leave the country without President Marcos knowing about it.
He said someone from BI admitted knowing about Guo’s departure but failed to inform Palace. The senator said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco would have lot of explaining to do.
He said Tansingco appeared to have withheld from President information about departure of Guo and her companions for long time.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, for his part, said it’s best at the moment not to have Guo’s passport canceled as ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as doing so might complicate efforts to make her return.
“It’s something that’s little tricky, that’s why we decided to our best judgment to just follow the law on cancellation of passports, which we’ll do later,” he said.
He said if Guo’s passport is cancelled, government would have to issue travel document “would be admission” that she’s Filipino citizen. Guo’s Filipino citizenship is being questioned.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty, in interview said cancelling Guo’s and her siblings’ passports might have “unintended consequences.” If Guo and her siblings’ passports will be cancelled, “it might make efforts to make them return more difficult,” he said.
Remulla appealed to Guo to return and face qualified trafficking complaint lodged against her.
Justice chief praised BI and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for their intelligence gathering and sharing that led to repatriation of Sheila and Ong.
“Victory demonstrates essential role of enhanced cooperation between government forces in ensuring justice is served and peace is safeguarded at all times,” he said.
Authorities revealed Sheila Guo had in her possession Chinese passport valid until 2031.
Remulla also said investigators are looking into liability of individuals and personalities who could have helped Guo and her partners flee.
“If we hold moneyed and entitled people to proper account, it can’t be far to achieving justice for all,” he said.
Philippine National Police (PNP) is keeping tabs on whereabouts of Guo, suspected to be hiding in Indonesia.
Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for PNP, said they continue to monitor Guo’s movements even if she is abroad, in coordination with their foreign counterparts.
Fajardo said they are assisting NBI and other concerned government agencies in investigating Guo siblings and Ong managed to leave Philippines without getting noticed by authorities.
Meanwhile, former senator Panfilo Lacson said arrest of sister and companion of Guo was valid.
“I do not see basis to question warrant of arrest because it is there, it is legal,they have to recognize warrant of arrest, not just judicial warrant issued by court, but warrant issued by upper and lower chambers of Congress ,”Lacson said.
If there are questions regarding their arrest, Lacson said it should be lodged against Indonesian and not Philippine authorities.
“They cannot question Philippine authorities because it was Indonesian authorities who picked them up and deported them to Philippines,” he said.
“Naturally, upon their return, they will be served with warrant of arrest issued by Senate and they should be detained at detention facility of Senate,” he added.
Sheila Guo was subject of arrest warrant issued by Senate, while Ong was ordered arrested by House of Representatives due to their failure to attend ongoing hearings on POGOs.
Lacson said there is already jurisprudence on Congress’ power to detain individuals in relation to conduct of hearings in aid of legislation.
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