SENATE deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros yesterday said she has received information from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo left the country for Malaysia last July 18 using her Philippine passport.
But the Justice Department said Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, is still in the country.
“As far as we know, Mayor Guo is still in the country. There has been no report to us of an attempted departure from the Bureau of Immigration,” DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesman Winston Casio confirmed that Guo has left the country, citing immigration records of its foreign counterparts.
Casio said Guo arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Denpasar, Indonesia via Batik Air 177 on July 18.
He also said that she arrived in Singapore from Kuala Lumpur via Jetstar Asia 686 on July 21.
Casio said the records also show that she has left Singapore via a ferry boat and arrived on August 18 in Batham, Indonesia.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, contrary to the statement of the DOJ, said:
“We received intelligence information from our counterparts abroad that Guo illegally left for Malaysia then flew to Singapore.”
He added that “she did not pass through Philippine immigration authorities.”
Hontiveros said the government should act on her information, stressing the incident would be a big blow to the country since a foreigner like Guo has made a mockery of the country’s laws.
In a privileged speech, Hontiveros said the information she received indicated that Guo arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at 12:17:13 (military time).
She said she had received a document that showed that “Guo Alice” entered Kuala Lumpur on July 18, 2024 using passport number P5469205B, the Philippine passport that had been issued to Guo.
“Mr. President, hindi po puwedeng ipagkaila na siya ito dahil po match na match po ito sa kanyang Philippine passport na ifa-flash ko ngayon. Maraming salamat sa NBI sa impormasyong ito, patuloy ang pag-track nila kay Alice Guo (Mr. President, it cannot be denied that it is her because her Philippine passport matched the one used [by Guo Alice to enter Kuala Lumpur]. Thanks to the NBI for this information; it is continuously tracking Alice Guo),” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros said that from Malaysia, Guo went to Singapore where she reportedly met with her father, Guo Jian Zhong, and mother, Lin Wen Yi. They were reunited with Guo’s sibling, Wesley Guo, and Cassandra Ong, an incorporator of Lucky South 99 which operated the raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
“The couple flew in from China on July 28, 2024. Mistulang reunion sila doon kasama sina Wesley Guo at Cassandra Ong (The [Guo] couple flew in from China on July 28, 2024. They had a reunion there (in Singapore) together with Wesley Guo and Cassandra Ong),” she said.
Last week, the Ombudsman kicked Guo out as mayor of Bamban, Tarlac while the Bureau of Internal Revenue filed a tax evasion complaint against Guo and two others before the DOJ stemming from her admission that she transferred her shares in Baofu Land Development Inc. to Jack Uy.
Hontiveros was puzzled as to how Guo was able to leave the country when the Bureau of Immigration had always assured the Senate that the dismissed mayor would not slip past them.
Hontiveros said Guo may have been aided by corrupt government officials.
“Mr. President, who allowed this travesty to happen? Sino ang may kagagawan nito? Hindi makakaalis si Alice Guo kung walang tumulong sa kanyang mga opisyales ng pamahalaan
(Mr. President, who allowed this travesty to happen? Who are behind this? Alice Guo could have not left the country without the help of government officials),” she said.
“I have always believed that legislative hearings are policy-driven kaya noong nag-announce na ng ban ang Pangulo, sabi ko, we have done our jobs, let law enforcement take the lead
(I have always believed that legislative hearings are policy-driven, that’s why when the President announced a ban on POGO, I said that we have done our jobs, let law enforcement take the lead),” she added.
Hontiveros said what Guo did should merit an investigation by law enforcement agencies to determine “if they dropped the ball.”
“Paano kung sila ang dapat managot? Nangako ang BI sa akin at sa Senate president pro tempore na hindi nila hahayaan si Guo Hua Ping na makaalis sa Pilipinas. Eh yun pala ay wala na talaga (What if they would be held accountable? The BI promised me and the Senate president pro tempore (Jinggoy Estrada) that it will not allow Guo Hua Ping to leave the country, but the truth is she’s already gone),” she added.
Estrada, during his interpellation, said Guo could have chartered a flight in a remote town to avoid being recognized, adding she has become popular because of the Senate investigations.
DOJ STAND
Clavano said Guo filed a motion for her case before the DOJ last Friday and attached a counter affidavit which was sworn before a Philippine notary public on August 14, 2024.
“And there have been reported sightings from law enforcement agencies after July 18, 2024,” Clavano added.
Clavano said the DOJ is “currently awaiting official verification from the NBI if the documents attributed to them are authentic.
“We will continue to gather information from both the Bureau of Immigration and the NBI.
This is a case of national significance. Thus, if it is indeed true that Alice Guo has left the country, a thorough investigation is needed to hold those responsible accountable,” Clavano said.
“This is not a light matter,” he added.
Guo has been the subject of an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) issued by the DOJ to the BI. The ILBO is different from a precautionary hold departure order since it is for monitoring purposes only and is not a sufficient prohibition to bar someone from leaving the country. — With Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
