Gatchalian confident of Alice Guo arrest in Indonesia

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday expressed confidence that dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo would be arrested in Indonesia. 

''Para sa akin mahuhuli siya sa Indonesia (For me, she will be nabbed in Indonesia),'' Gatchalian told reporters, days after Guo's sister Shiela and alleged associate Cassandra Li Ong were intercepted in Indonesia. 

Gatchalian said he already talked with ASEAN ambassadors and was informed that they are on alert for Alice Guo, who is facing charges in the Philippines for her alleged links to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities.

''Naniniwala ako 'yung sangay ng enforcement agencies ng Indonesia ay nakaalerto na kaya mahihirapan na siya gumalaw dito sa Southeast Asia. So kanina 'yung mga ASEAN ambassadors nakausap ko and sabi nila nakalerto na 'yung kanilang mga awtoridad,'' he said.

(I believe that the enforcement agencies in Indonesia are already on alert so it will be difficult for her to move in Southeast Asia. I have talked to ASEAN ambassadors and they said their authorities have been alerted.)

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has said Guo was supposedly trying to get into Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle region.

Golden Triangle refers to mainland Southeast Asia, located on the intersecting borders of Mekong River countries Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.

Gatchalian, who is among the senators investigating illegal POGO activities, earlier said government agencies might have conspired with one another to conceal the escape of Guo despite an immigration lookout bulletin issued against her. He said it has been a mystery how Guo was able to leave the Philippines, noting that this was a big blunder on the part of law enforcement agencies.

Guo's name was listed on the immigration lookout bulletin following the investigation into her true identity and her alleged link to illegal POGO activities in her town. She was dismissed as Bamban mayor by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct.

The Bureau of Immigration has said Guo is currently in Indonesia. —KBK, GMA Integrated News