DOJ to identify persons responsible if Alice Guo has left PH

The Department of Justice will investigate if the suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo has indeed left the country.

DOJ spokesman Atty. Mico Clavano said the department had yet to receive a report of her departure from the Bureau of Immigration.

“As far as we know, Mayor Guo is still in the country,” Clavano told reporters after Sen. Risa Hontiveros revealed that Guo left the Philippines on July 17 for Malaysia.

In June, an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) was issued against Guo and several others. An ILBO tells immigration officers to alert authorities should the subject try to leave the country.

"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. This is not a light matter,” he added.

Clavano said that Guo had filed a motion with a counter-affidavit at the DOJ on Friday, which was notarized on August 14 in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.

The counter-affidavit was in response to the qualified human trafficking complaint filed against Guo in connection to the raided POGO hub in her locality, where over 800 foreign nationals were rescued.

Clavano said there were also sightings of Guo after July 18.

In a tweet, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio said that the PAOCC was coordinating with local partners and foreign counterparts to verify Guo's departure.

Guo, who has been issued a Senate arrest order, was at the center of a Senate inquiry on her alleged links to the raided POGO hub. Her identity as a Filipino is also under scrutiny. 

On Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Guo from the service with forfeiture of all her retirement benefits as well as perpetual disqualification from public office.

Her camp said she would appeal the decision.

Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian said that in the sworn counter affidavit that Guo filed on Aug.15 with the DOJ, an Atty. Elmer Galicia  was the notary public.

"He told our staff this morning that Alice Guo personally appeared in his office when said document was executed," the senator said to Nimfa Ravelo via Super Radyo dzBB.—NB/RF, GMA Integrated News