BI vows to file charges vs personnel who helped Alice Guo escape

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday assured the Senate that it would file charges against its personnel who are proven to have helped dismiss Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo flee the country.

During a Senate committee hearing on the alleged illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said he still cannot confirm if a member of the BI personnel was involved in Guo's escape despite such possibility.

The issue was brought up after Senator Joel Villanueva raised concern over the possible rise of "POGO-sponsored" government officials, including the president of the Philippines.

"Kung hindi natin tutuldukan ang evils of POGO, hindi lang mayor ng Bamban ang kayang i-produce ng mga illegal activities ng POGO. I'm sure, easily, they can produce Congress person and, someday, a POGO-sponsored president," Villanueva said.

(If we don't put an end to the evils of POGO, their illegal activities would not just produce a mayor of Bamban. I'm sure, easily, they can produce a representative in Congress and, someday, a POGO-sponsored president.)

"I hope the Bureau of Immigration would have the passion right now to clear the agency," he added. 

Manahan responded, "Hindi ho natin maalis na walang hong kasangkot ang BI personnel. But rest assured na any involvement of BI personnel, once ma-establish namin na may involvement, we will file criminal and administrative cases and we will submit it to this committee."

(We cannot rule out that BI personnel were not involved. But rest assured that any involvement of BI personnel, once we establish their involvement, we will file criminal and administrative cases, and we will submit it to this committee.)

However, Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, said the BI should strive to cleanse the agency from corrupt personnel and not just file cases against those who helped in Guo's escape.

In response, Manahan confirmed that he would take note of Villanueva's guidance.

Hontiveros earlier floated the possibility that an immigration official helped Guo escape from the Philippines.

According to the BI, Guo left the country without passing through Immigration authorities.

During a previous Senate hearing, Guo confirmed that she left the Philippines via boats, one of which was a yacht.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito has urged the BI and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to establish general aviation terminals in airports to avoid unmonitored departures like that of Guo. — VDV, GMA Integrated News