Charges recommended vs. Shiela Guo, Cassandra Li Ong

The National Prosecution Service (NPS) has recommended the filing of charges against Shiela Guo, the purported sister of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, and Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

According to Saleema Refran’s report on Super Radyo dzBB on Wednesday, the NPS recommended charges to be filed against Guo for violation of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code for Disobedience to Summons issued by the Senate.

It also recommended charges against her for allegedly using a false Philippine passport.

“On the part of the prosecutors, nakitaan talaga ng sapat na ebidensya dahil nga doon sa bago nating rules sa reasonable certainty of conviction. Kailangan lahat ng elemento po ng krimen ay meron nang supporting evidence,” Justice spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano said in an interview.

(The prosecutors indeed found sufficient evidence because of our new rules on reasonable certainty of conviction, where all elements of the crime must have supporting evidence.)

Guo was identified as Zhang Mier in NPS' recommendation. 

Last week, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said that Shiela Guo is a Chinese citizen named Zhang Mier who “fraudulently acquired” a Philippine passport.

Appearing before a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Guo admitted that she was not born in the Philippines but in China and that she only arrived in the country in 2001. This revelation prompted Senator Risa Honitveros, who is leading the Senate probe, to suspect a case of stolen identity.

Guo is also facing a deportation case for undesirability and misrepresentation. Her purported sister, Alice, in facing charges in connection with the illegal operations of a POGO hub in Bamban.

However, Clavano said Guo must still face the complaints and cases that are filed against her in the country before she can be deported. He also said her admissions during the Senate hearing will also affect her case.

“Kasi nga nakapag-oath po siya, eh. So lahat po ng sinasabi niya ay under oath talaga. And we have to assume na ‘yun po talaga ‘yung katotohanan,” he said.

(Because she took an oath, you see. So everything she said was under oath. And we have to assume that it's the truth.)

However, Clavano said it is still up to authorities to verify Guo's remarks.

Ong

Meanwhile, the NPS recommended charges to be filed against Ong — identified in the document as Katherine Cassandra Li Ong — for disobedience to summons issued by the House of Representatives.

Aside from this, charges for obstruction of justice for harboring, concealing, or facilitating the escape of a criminal offender were also recommended against her in connection with Alice Guo's illegal departure from the Philippines.

According to the spokesperson, the recommended charges by the NPS were different from those filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Clavano said that Guo was initially charged with violation of the Passport Act, falsification of public documents, and violation of the Philippine Immigration Act. Meanwhile, Ong was initially charged with obstruction of justice and violation of the Philippine Immigration Act. 

The NPS also recommended that the charges for falsification be referred to the NBI and other appropriate law enforcement agencies for case build-up and further investigation.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Justice Undersecretary Nicky Ty said that the information was filed on Tuesday.

“Ang alam ko may information na na-file kahapon. Sabay ito sa pag labas ng inquest resolution. Tapos kung hindi ako nagkakamali dapat ngayong araw na ito maisampa na yan sa korte,” Ty said.

(I know that the information was filed yesterday, along with the release of the inquest resolution. And if I'm not mistaken, it should be submitted to the court today.)

Ty said that the recommended charges are bailable.

“Itong mga kaso na ito, hindi naman ito masyadong mabigat. Bailable ito, no, so maaaring mag piyansa itong si Cassie at Shiela sa mga kasong ito,” he said.

(These cases aren't that serious. They're bailable, so Cassie and Shiela can post bail for these charges.)

More cases

According to Ty, authorities are seeking more cases against the two, such as a money laundering case.

“Ang balita ko this week may mai-sasampa na money laundering case… definitely, si Sheila involved there. Parang sabi sa akin kanina parang si Cassie din daw madadawit,” he said.

(I've heard this week that there's going to be a new money laundering case… definitely, Sheila is involved in it. Apparently, I was told earlier that Cassie might be implicated too.)

Shiela Guo and Ong were intercepted in Indonesia last week and brought back to the Philippines to face separate congressional investigations.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), meanwhile, on Wednesday said it will investigate the notary public who notarized the counter-affidavit of Alice Guo even if she did not personally swear before him, Clavano said.

The document was notarized on August 14 when Alice Guo was already out of the country. —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News