Remulla still believes ‘Immigration people’ involved in Guo's departure

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said he still suspects that some personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) were involved in the departure of dismissed Bamban, Mayor Alice Guo and her siblings in July.

In a press briefing, Remulla said that their investigation on Guo's "escape" is ongoing.

“Kasi may suspicion tayo that some Immigration people are involved (we have a suspicion that some Immigration people are involved),” he said.

Remulla recalled the Pastillas scam, which allowed the illegal entry of Chinese citizens into the country. 

“Kaya alam natin meron talagang gumagawa niyan sa Immigration. ‘Yun ang ating tinitignan ngayon,” he said.

(We know for a fact that someone has been doing that at the Immigration office. That's what we're looking into right now.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from the BI but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Boats

The BI previously said that Guo's group slipped out of the country without passing through the Philippines' immigration authorities.

Shiela Guo, the former mayor’s purported sister, previously said that she, Guo, and Wesley Guo left the country through several boats. 

Remulla, however, was doubtful about this. 

“Hindi pa rin ako naniniwala na nag bangka sila at saka nag barko. Hindi ako naniniwala talaga. Kasi parang sine naman ‘yun. Ano, natutulog sila sa lambat, nakahilata sila doon? Tatlong araw, apat na araw habang bumabyahe?” he said. 

(I still can't believe they sailed on a boat and then a ship. I really don't believe it. It's like a movie. What, they slept on a boat, exposed to the elements? Three days, four days of traveling by sea?)

Asked if he had talked with Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco about his suspicions, Remulla said, “hindi pa (not yet).”

“Kasi nung nangyari ito, hindi naman niya ko sinabihan kaagad, eh. Marahil alam na niya na matagal ‘yan bago namin nalaman. Kaya hindi na kami nag uusap ngayon. Hindi tama ‘yung ganun klaseng asal na hindi mo ipapaalam sa DOJ Secretary yung nangyayari sa opisina mo,” he said.

(When that happened, he didn't tell me right away. Maybe he already knew about it before we found out. That's why we're not talking now. That kind of behavior where you don't inform the DOJ Secretary about what's going on in your office is not right.)

Procedure

Indonesian authorities arrested Guo in Tangerang City on early Wednesday morning. 

She is currently under the custody of the Indonesian Police.

According to Remulla, the procedure for Guo’s return will differ from that of Shiela Guo and Cassandra Li Ong, who were apprehended in Batam, Indonesia in August by Immigration authorities.

“Ngayon pinagaaralan natin kung paano natin [si Guo] papauwi dito, sapagkat hindi naman Immigration ang may hawak. Police ang may hawak kaya iba na naman ang indications na maaring mangyari,” Remulla said.

(We're looking into how to bring Guo back here, because it's not Immigration that's in charge. The police are handling it, so the indications are that a different outcome may occur.)

He said that Guo may have also undergone tactical interrogation in Indonesia, saying it is the “natural course of things.” 

Asked about his thoughts on the living conditions of Guo prior to her arrest, Remulla said hiding from the law is difficult. 

“‘Yun ang problema. Wala namang— liliit ang mundo mo kapag ikaw ay maging fugitive from justice. ‘Yun din ang maipapayo ko kay Pastor Quiboloy. Kahit anong gawin mo diyan eh, mahirap magtago… just face the charges,” he said.

(That's the problem. You'll find that your world shrinks when you become a fugitive from justice. That's also my advice to Pastor Quiboloy. No matter what you do, it's hard to hide... just face the charges.)

“Kita niyo ‘yung katapusan ni Alice Guo ngayon, ‘yung kanyang pagkakahuli. It's just a sign na talagang mahirap magtago,” he added.

(We saw how Alice Guo ended up with her capture. It's just a sign that it's really hard to hide.)

Meanwhile, Remulla said they are also looking into the cancellation of the passport of Wesley Guo.

Guo was revealed to have left the country in July.

TIMELINE: The escape of Alice Guo and her siblings

Guo is facing a human trafficking complaint in relation to the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator hub in Bamban as well as a money laundering complaint before the DOJ.

A quo warranto petition has also been filed against her before a Manila court as well as a petition to cancel her birth certificate before a Tarlac court. —VAL, GMA Integrated News