Alice Guo's escape prompts House panel to review intel funds

The House appropriations committee will look into the use of intelligence funds of various government agencies following the escape of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo despite having an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against her.

"Congress takes the allocation and use of intelligence funds very seriously. The escape of former Mayor Alice Guo despite an immigration lookout bulletin is an incident of great concern," said appropriations committee chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co on Saturday.

Co stressed that such "lapses" should not happen again as there have been proper allocations for intelligence operations. 

"Kailangang siguruhin nating ang bawat piso ng intelligence funds ay nagagamit nang tama at epektibo. We want to prevent these lapses from happening again by ensuring stronger oversight and accountability," he stressed. 

(We need to ensure that each peso of the intelligence funds are being used appropriately and effectively.) 

Earlier, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said that Guo may have been assisted by public officials to leave the country.

PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio also said that "as far as the PAOCC is concerned, we are confident that she is trying to get into the Golden Triangle."

For now, the Bureau of Immigration believes that Guo is still in Indonesia. 

Co, meanwhile, reiterated that a review of the intel funds is crucial as there are still other high profile personalities that authorities are currently looking for.  

"Isama na din natin ang kaso nina Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy at dating BuCor Chief Gerald Bantag, na hanggang ngayon'y 'di pa rin nahuhuli. These incidents are alarming because they raise serious questions on use of funds for security and law enforcement," added Co.

(Let us also include the cases of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and former BuCor Chief Gerald Bantag, both of whom are still at large.)

Senate

Guo's name was listed on the immigration lookout bulletin following the investigation into her true identity and her link to illegal POGO activities in her town.

She was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct.

On Friday, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that government agencies might have conspired with one another to conceal Guo's escape.

He also asked how Guo managed to escape despite the billions allocated for intelligence funds.

"What happens to billions of intelligence funds? Bakit nakalusot ang isang Alice Guo sa kanilang pagmomonitor? Nakakadismaya dahil hanggang ngayon hindi pa natin alam paano nakalabas,” Gatchalian added.

(Why was Alice Guo able to slip past their radar? It has been very disappointing that, to date, we have no idea how she was able to escape.)

“This does not boost confidence because there are a lot of others who are yet to be located... That is something that I will ask about during the upcoming budget season. What happened to our billions of intelligence fund? Hindi makita kung paano ginagamit,” Gatchalian added.

(I cannot see how the intelligence fund is serving its purpose.)

—Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News