Hontiveros to lead Senate justice subcommittee probe into Alice Guo 'escape'

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros will lead the chamber's investigation into the "escape" of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

This came after newly-elected Senate justice and human rights committee chairman Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III manifested the chairmanship of the subcommittee during the plenary session on Wednesday.

"I have formed a subcommittee to hear this particular subject matter and the chairperson I have designated is no other than the Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros herself," Pimentel said.

Pimentel also moved to refer the privilege speech of Hontiveros, where the latter disclosed that Guo, who is also identified as Chinese citizen Guo Hua Ping, already left the Philippines and flew to Malaysia on July 18, to the committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality which investigated Guo's links to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and "led to this situation where the subject person of the hearing has allegedly escaped Philippine jurisdiction."

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero then suggested to just make the secondary referral of Hontiveros' privilege speech to the Senate committee on public services since Hontiveros already chairs the committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality.

Escudero also pointed out that the issue of Guo's alleged escape pertained to "the seeming absence of lack of checks and balances in our airports and other ports"  which is covered by the Senate public services' jurisdiction.

But Pimentel insisted that the knowledge on the issue and the persons involved is with the Hontiveros-led committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality.

"Parang siya yung source nung subject matter, Mr. President. Subject matter expertise so if we can make secondary [referral], justice [committee] is still the primary," Pimentel said.

In the end, the body ruled to refer Hontiveros' privilege speech to the committee on public services as well as the committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality.

Pimentel noted that referring privilege speeches to three committees is only approved for "rare cases."

"In rare cases we designate three committees. So let us treat this as one of those," Pimentel said.

On Tuesday, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval divulged that Guo is currently in Indonesia.

The Immigration Bureau is now backtracking Guo's movements to determine the persons behind her travel, Sandoval said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has since warned Immigration 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 NBI and BI to look into Guo’s departure.

Earlier in the day, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said an investigation is underway on the reported departure of the dismissed Bamban mayor and "heads will roll" as he noted that Guo's escape "laid bare corruption that undermines our justice system and erodes public trust."

Guo has been linked to an illegal POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac raided by authorities. In June, the Department of the Interior and Local Government filed graft charges against her in this regard.

Her identity and citizenship were also questioned during Senate hearings on the illegal POGOs.

Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered her dismissal for grave misconduct.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue also filed a tax evasion complaint against Guo after she allegedly failed to settle P500,000 in taxes.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) meanwhile said it will continue its investigation against Guo despite her alleged departure from the country.

The Comelec earlier served a subpoena against Guo in relation to the material misrepresentation complaint filed against her. The dismissed mayor was given until August 14 to file her counter-affidavit. —RF, GMA Integrated News