Remulla warns erring BI personnel to tell truth about Guo's 'escape'

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday warned Immigration personnel who may have had a hand in the “escape” of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice 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 Bureau of Immigration (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.

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.

This was confirmed by BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval earlier. Sandoval said that Guo is currently in Indonesia.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) stressed that an Immigration Lookout Bulletin (ILBO) containing the names “Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping” was issued in June.

An ILBO tells immigration officers to alert authorities should the subject try to leave the country.

The DOJ said that despite the existing ILBO, the BI confirmed that Guo slipped out of the country.

However, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, citing intelligence information, previously said that Guo slipped out of the country without passing through the Philippines' immigration authorities.

Meanwhile, Remulla said that the department will also look into the possibility that Guo’s legal counsels may be involved in her exit.

“[L]et me reiterate that as much as lawyers have an obligation to protect the interests of their clients, they also have a broader responsibility to uphold the Rule of Law and safeguard public interest,” he said.

Atty. Stephen David, Guo’s legal counsel, earlier said on Tuesday morning that Guo assured him she was still in the Philippines. The lawyer, however, admitted that he cannot confirm the information and has no idea where she is exactly.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the BI and Guo’s camp but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Guo, who has been issued a Senate arrest order, was at the center of a Senate inquiry on her alleged links to the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac. Her identity as a Filipino is also under scrutiny.

READ: TIMELINE: The plots and twists of the 'Alice Guo' probe

—KG, GMA Integrated News