BI confirms Alice Guo now in Indonesia

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday confirmed that dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is currently in Indonesia, arriving there nearly a month after her departure from the Philippines.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Guo traveled to Malaysia from the Philippines on July 16, then arrived in Indonesia from Singapore on August 18.

"Sa atin pong pagbantay sa mga counterpart intelligence information, nalaman natin nasa Indonesia ngayon. Tumawid siya from Singapore the other day, August 18," Sandoval told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Based on our monitoring of counterpart intelligence information, we've discovered that she is still in Indonesia. She flew there from Singapore on August 18.)

The Immigration Bureau is now backtracking Guo's movements to determine the persons behind her travel, Sandoval said. The BI is also not ruling out the possibility of some immigration officials helping the mayor.

"Nagba-backtrack tayo sa dinaanan ni Mayor Guo kung paano siya nakalabas ng bansa. From there, malalaman natin kung sino ang mga individuals responsible in that area," Sandoval added.

(We're backtracking her route to identify the persons who facilitated her travel.)

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday warned BI personnel who may have had a hand in the “escape” of Guo to come out and tell the truth or “heads will roll.”

Remulla issued the remark as he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation and the BI to look into Guo’s departure.

“As civil servants, we have sworn to the country our unwavering integrity, transparency and accountability in all our actions and decisions,” he said in a statement.

“Hence, I am issuing this final warning against erring BI personnel who may have had a participation in the escape of Guo despite strict restrictions imposed by our government, it’s either you come out and unveil the truth or wait until I personally get to the bottom of this where heads will roll and all hell will break loose,” he added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) meanwhile on Tuesday said it has to work through diplomatic channels to bring Guo back to the country.

“But since, kung totoo man po, na nakalabas na po siya ng bansa, then we have to go through the diplomatic channel to address the possibility of bringing her back dito sa atin,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.

(But since, if it is true, she has already left the country, then we have to go through the diplomatic channel to address the possibility of bringing her back to the Philippines.)

In a privilege speech before the Senate on Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros bared that Guo, who was also identified as Chinese citizen Guo Hua Ping, left the country on July 18 for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) also said the dismissed mayor had left the country and had been to at least three countries in Southeast Asia, the latest being Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, citing intelligence information, said Guo slipped out of the country without passing through Philippine immigration authorities.

Sandoval said Guo may be deported to the Philippines should her travel documents be canceled.

"Kung makakansenla ang kaniyang travel documents and the person will be repatriated, ibabalik siya sa Pilipinas kung wala na siyang valid travel documents. We're continuously monitoring 'yung movements niya out of the country," she said.

(She will be repatriated if her travel documents will be canceled. We're continuously monitoring her movements out of the country.)

For his part, Guo's legal counsel Stephen David said the dismissed mayor had assured him that she was "100%" in the Philippines.

David said he was able to talk with Guo on Monday, August 19, and she told him that she is still in the country. The lawyer, however, admitted that he cannot confirm the information and has no idea where she is exactly.

"Siyempre hindi ko mako-confirm 'yan. Siguro 'yung kanilang report, may basehan sila. Pero sa akin kasi, kausap ko kasi 'yung client ko, sabi niya nasa Pilipinas naman siya," David said in an Unang Balita interview.

(Of course I can't confirm that. Maybe their report has basis. But for me, I talked with my client, and she told me she is in the Philippines.)

"In-assure niya ako 100% na nasa Pilipinas siya. Kaya ako, 'yung sinasabi ni Senator Risa [Hontiveros], mahirap po namang… ayunan," he added

(She assured me 100% that she is still in the Philippines. For me, it’s hard to agree with what Senator Risa is saying.) — VDV/KG, GMA Integrated News