NBI still looking for Alice Guo decoy

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is still searching for the alleged decoy of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo who was allegedly used to confuse the authorities, John Consulta reported Tuesday on "24 Oras" Tuesday.

NBI Director Jimmy Santiago confirmed the agency has been following the alleged “body double” of Guo, who is one of her staff and possibly her decoy to avoid being caught by authorities.

“During yung hinahanap namin si Alice Guo, yan ang rabbit namin, yan ang susundan mo para makuha mo yung principal. So minomonitor namin yang babae na yan,” Santiago said.

(During the time we are looking for Alice Guo, she is our rabbit. She is the one we are following to locate the principal. So, we are monitoring that woman.)

Guo confirmed that her lookalike was one of her employees when the NBI asked her in Indonesia.

“Tao po ko yan. Lahat halos ng tao ko long hair. Slimmer version,” Guo told the NBI.

(She is my employee. Almost all of my employees have long hair but slimmer version.)

The NBI also said it does not believe in Guo’s claim that no Filipinos helped her escape the country because it has identified some of the people who helped her.  

“Nung pumutok na connected siya sa POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), marami nang umaassist sa kanya, naga-advise sa kanya. Hanggang sa nung tumakas siya, marami, private at public official, tinutulungan siya. May feelers kaming natatanggap, gusto na rin daw sumuko ni Wesley. Inaantay na lang daw niya ang ate niya,” Santiago said.

(When the news came out that she was connected to POGO, a lot of people assisted her and advised her until she escaped the country. A lot of people, private individuals and public officials, helped her. We received information that her brother Wesley wants to surrender. He is just waiting for his sister.)

During the Senate hearing on Monday, Guo said she fled the country on a yacht. 

When Senator Risa Hontiveros asked Guo if she knew lawyer Elmer Galicia, the dismissed mayor refused to answer.

"Sinabi mo sa isang media interview, marami ka nang interviews... Paano mo nakilala si Atty Galicia? (You told in an interview, I know you have a lot of interviews, how did you meet Atty Galicia?)" Risa asked Guo.

"Wala po akong sinabihan sa interview (I did not say that in an interview)," Guo replied.

The said interview was caught by GMA Integrated News in Indonesia when the NBI was questioning Guo.

In the video, Guo said she knew Galicia. But when asked when she and the lawyer last met, the dismissed mayor said she will answer at another time.

Galicia earlier admitted that Guo did not personally swear before him her counter-affidavit on the human trafficking complaint. 

According to the NBI, the information provided by Guo will help them in filing a case against Galicia.

“Yung statement niya na yun, ay nag a-aide sa amin sa aming imbestigasyon. Nagdadagdag po yun ng aming basis kung bakit kakasuhan natin si Atty. Galicia,” Santiago said.

(Guo’s statement aids us in our investigation as it adds to our basis as to why we are filing a case against Atty. Galicia.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News