NICA: Authorities monitoring more persons like Alice Guo

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) on Thursday said it is monitoring more personalities like dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo who are possible 'sleeper cells.'

During the hearing of the Senate public services committee, panel chairperson Senator Raffy Tulfo asked NICA director Ferlu Silvio if they have some person or group like Guo who are under their radar.

"Meron sa radar niyo na binabantayan niyo isang tao, grupo na katulad ni Alice Guo?" Tulfo asked.

However, Silvio said he will only divulge more information about these possible sleeper cells in an executive session.

“Meron po at ibibigay ko po, with your permission, on executive session. But then again, meron po kaming standing committee on security. Kasama po doon ang various government line agencies,” Silvio said.

(We have and I will give the information to you, with your permission, in an executive session. But then again, we have a standing committee on security. Various government line agencies are included.)

“Pinaguusapan po namin doon ano po yung hinaharap na mga problema lalong-lalo na sa foreign interference. So yun po ang maibibigay ko na detalye. Sa executive session na lang po,” he added.

(We are talking about challenges that we are facing, especially in foreign interference. So that's the only detail I can give. I will only share more in the executive session.)

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Tulfo said Guo will be brought back to the Philippines on Thursday after getting arrested in Indonesia on Tuesday.

Guo’s name was listed on the immigration lookout bulletin following the investigation into her true identity as a supposed Chinese national and her link to illegal activities of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in Bamban.

The dismissed mayor is facing several complaints including for human trafficking and money laundering.

During the Senate hearing, Tulfo urged concerned government agencies to have stricter protocols at airports after Guo was able to exit the country despite the monitoring of the government.

He also suggested setting more stringent requirements and processes for foreigners who are obtaining Philippine documents including birth certificates for late registration. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News