Alice Guo still in Indonesia —BI

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo is still in Indonesia and has not attempted to leave the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday.

“Sa tracking po ng ating counterpart doon, confirmed po nasa Indonesia pa po. Wala pa pong attempts ng paglipat o pag-transfer sa ibang bansa itong si former mayor Alice Guo,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval told Unang Balita in an interview.

(Our counterpart confirmed that she is still in Indonesia. Former mayor Alice Guo has not yet made any attempts to move or transfer to another country.)

Guo’s brother, Wesley, is also still in Indonesia, according to Sandoval, despite the information from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) that he already left the country.

“With Wesley Guo, ang last known information niya is Indonesia. Wala pa po taying new information as to his whereabouts kung lumipat po siya ng bansa," said Sandoval.

(With Wesley Guo, his last known information is Indonesia. We still don't have new information as to his whereabouts if he moved to the country.)

"We are waiting sa confirmation ng Indonesia counterparts natin kung may mga updates po sa biyahe niya." 

(We are waiting for confirmation from our Indonesian counterparts about any updates on his trip.)

Guo’s name was listed on the immigration lookout bulletin following the investigation into her true identity and her link to illegal activities of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in Bamban.

Authorities previously said that Guo left the Philippines as early as July 18. 

On Thursday, the PAOCC showed a photo of Guo at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 21.

Meanwhile, Guo's companions, her sister Shiela and a representative of another POGO firm in Porac Cassandra Li Ong, were intercepted in Indonesia and have already brought back to the Philippines.

According to GMA Integrated News sources in John Consulta's report on "24 Oras," Philippine and Indonesian authorities have monitored Guo's entry to Indonesia since last week.

In a separate interview with reporters, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the capture of Guo's companions, her sister Shiela and Cassandra Li Ong, would be helpful in the arrest of the dismissed mayor.

''Malaking bagay 'yun dahil of course 'yung information na makukuha mo sa kanila,'' Abalos said. 

(That's huge because of the information we could get from them.)

Sabah

Sandoval said that Guo’s group possibly exited the Philippines through Sabah, Malaysia because based on documents, they did not go through formal airports and seaports.

“Ang indication po na nakikita natin ay nagdaan po sila sa Sabah, Malaysia possibly through illegal means po kaya hindi po nagdaan sa processing ng immigration,” she said.

(The indication we see is that they passed through Sabah, Malaysia possibly through illegal means, so they did not go through the usual immigration process.)

From Sabah, Sandoval said the group went to Kuala Lumpur. Then they went to Singapore. From there, the group on August 18 transferred to Batam, Indonesia via ferry.

Sandoval noted that authorities are still investigating and backtracking the possible route of Guo’s group.

The result of the probe is expected to come out in the next few weeks. —with report from Anna Felicia Bajo/ VAL, GMA Integrated News