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Obstruction complaint
By Nidz Godino
“We are taking the President’s directive very seriously. .. of national significance, and we will leave no stone unturned in our investigation,” Department of Justice spokesman Mico Clavano said days after their arrest in Indonesia and repatriation to Manila, incorporator of online gaming operator Lucky South 99 and sister of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo underwent inquest proceedings before National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Special Task Force Division for obstruction of justice and harboring fugitive.
Cassandra Li Ong, incorporator of Lucky South 99, and Sheila Leal Guo were arrested last Aug. 20 by Indonesian immigration authorities at Mega Mall Batam Centre, in Riau, Indonesia.
Two arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Philippine Airlines Flight PR 540 from Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday.
Ong is also being investigated by Senate for her involvement in Lucky South 99, Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga raided weeks ago for illegal and criminal activities.
Two are believed to have been with dismissed mayor when she left the country on July 18.
NBI also confirmed Sheila is actually Chinese national named Zhang Mier.
Fingerprint analysis conducted by NBI and BI matched Guo’s fingerprints with those of Zhang Mier.
NBI director Jaime Santiago said at press briefing fingerprint analysis confirmed “ Chinese national Zhang Mier and Sheila Leal Guo are one and the same person.”
He also said Guo would be charged with violating Philippine Passport Act, as her passport was allegedly fraudulently obtained.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Sheila’s use of fraudulently issued passport would be part of immigration violation charges to be leveled against her.
She underwent inquest for offense Thursday night at bureau’s headquarters in Manila. BI is preparing deportation proceedings against Sheila.
“We charged her with misrepresentation as Filipino citizen, fraudulently acquiring Philippine passport,” Tansingco said at briefing.
Sheila’s being Chinese passport holder was only discovered after her arrest in Indonesia, according to Tansingco.
Sheila and Ong were handed over to NBI after spending several hours at BI.
Investigation is still ongoing to determine how Sheila and Ong managed to leave Philippines undetected and whether they had been assisted by Philippine officials.
Meanwhile, Tansingco stressed investigation includes retracing paths taken by Sheila and Ong as they left the country. Specific details about their departure were not disclosed.
Clavano said they have taken steps in compliance with President Marcos’ directive to identify and hold accountable any official found to have helped Alice Guo and her companions leave Philippines.
Santiago, meanwhile, clarified that while charges against Sheila and Ong are bailable, two will remain under detention by virtue of warrants of arrest issued by Senate and House of Representatives.
Santiago also said reglementary period for Sheila and Ong was put on hold because of holiday.
He stated that period will continue on Tuesday at 8 in the morning , two will be turned over to Senate and House.
“Today is holiday, reglementary period does not work because there is no office available, so it will only work from time they were arrested until it starts again on Tuesday,” Santiago said.
Ong’s legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio, however, accused NBI of not following procedures in arrest of his client.
“I asked Santiago basis for arrest was…he said NBI would charge her with crime, but if it’s just charge, then that should go through regular process of filing complaint affidavit with preliminary investigation,” Topacio said.
He argued NBI should not detain Ong without case, emphasizing that she should have been turned over to House of Representatives if there was House warrant for her arrest.
Topacio said NBI’s action was “motivated by higher orders” and that it was plain “lawlessness.”
“There’s no reason for NBI to detain her…they can charge her for anything, but without case, why detain her…these are instructions from above, and it’s plain and simple lawlessness,” Topacio said.
But Santiago explained bureau’s actions, saying NBI was acting on valid warrant.
“When arrest warrant is issued, whether by court, Senate or Congress, it is directed to all law enforcement agencies, and we are one of them… once we apprehend person sought by warrant, we process them and return warrant,” Santiago said. He acknowledged NBI was unable to turn over Ong as it was holiday.
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