DOJ: Indonesia asking for prisoner-swap with Alice Guo, drug suspect

The Indonesian government is requesting an exchange of prisoners in the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Wednesday.

Remulla answered yes when he was asked if the complications he mentioned regarding Guo’s deportation involved the request of the Jakarta police to  exchange Guo with drug suspect Gregor Johan Haas.

“Yes, what I mentioned earlier,” Remulla told reporters.

Indonesian authorities arrested Guo in Tangerang City on early Wednesday morning. She is currently under the custody of the Indonesian Police.

Haas was arrested on May 15 in Bogo, Cebu by the Bureau of Immigration pursuant to the Red Notice issued by Interpol. He is facing charges for engaging in smuggling drugs, a crime punished with death in Indonesia.

Remulla earlier said that the procedure for Guo’s return would differ from that of Shiela Guo, the former mayor’s purported sister, and Cassandra Li Ong, who were apprehended in Batam, Indonesia in August by Immigration authorities.

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.

In Saleema Refran’s 24 Oras report, the DOJ will send a team of its senior prosecutors and National Bureau of Investigation agents to manage Guo’s return to the country.

The DOJ is also looking at a number of Immigration personnel who may be involved in Guo’s departure. 

“Nagpupuslit papasok nung araw yung Pastillas. Pastillas Gang. At nagpupuslit din sila palabas. Kaya alam natin meron talagang gumagawa niyan sa Immigration. Iyon ang ating tinitignan ngayon,” Remulla said

(“The Pastillas Gang is allowing illegal entry and departure of people in the country so we know that someone is doing that at Immigration. That’s what we are currently looking into.)

Remulla also admitted that he is not talking to Immigration chief Norman Tansingco after he was not immediately informed of Guo’s departure. 

Tansingco earlier admitted to the Senate that he learned Guo had left the country on August 15, but informed the DOJ five days later. 

“Kasi nung nangyari ito, hindi niya naman ako sinabihan kaagad. Marahil alam niya na matagal yan bago ko nalaman. Hindi tama yung ganun klaseng asal na hindi mo papaalam sa DOJ secretary yung nangyayari sa opisina nya,” Remulla said. 

(He did not immediately inform me after it happened. Most probably, he knew that long before I did. Not informing the DOJ Secretary of the situation is not the right behavior. 

GMA Integrated News has reached out to Tansingco but he has yet to reply as of this posting.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating if there are police involved in Guo’s departure. 

“And when lumabas sa investigation na meron mga pulis na tumulong diyan, walang sacred cows dito, papanagutin natin ang pulis na mapapatunayang tumulong sa pagpapatakas kay Alice Guo,” PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo said.

(And if the investigation reveals that there are police involved in Guo’s departure, we will hold them accountable.)—NB/RF, GMA Integrated News