BI: Alice Guo might have used private airstrip to flee PH

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo might have used a private airstrip in the Philippines when she flew to Malaysia in July, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

“Doon po sa pag-aanalisa natin, mukhang hindi po ito sa isang major international airport o seaport umalis itong si former mayor Alice Guo,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval told Unang Balita in an interview on Thursday.

(Based on our analysis, it seems that former mayor Alice Guo did not leave from a major international airport or seaport.)

“We believe that she might have used a private airstrip, upang iligal po na makaalis ng bansa without the knowledge of authorities,” she added.

(We believe that she might have used a private airstrip to illegally leave the country without the knowledge of authorities.)

This is contrary to the earlier claims of Guo that she left the Philippines through boats.

Sandoval said private airstrips are usually managed by a ground handler who informs and asks for clearances from concerned government agencies.

Those who assisted Guo in leaving the country will face complaints, according to Sandoval.

“Yun po ang bina-backtrack natin upang malaman po kasi nakita natin, na-confirm natin na via aircraft ito dumating ng Kuala Lumpur International Airport. So, medyo na na-narrow down na natin yung pagpipilian,” Sandoval said.

(That's what we are backtracking to find out because it has been confirmed that she arrived via aircraft at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. So, we have narrowed down the possibilities.)

“We are in the process of coordinating with our counterparts in Malaysia upang makita po ang mga manipesto naman ng mga flights na dumating po during that period in Kuala Lumpur,” she added.

(We are in the process of coordinating with our counterparts in Malaysia to see the manifests of the flights that arrived during that period in Kuala Lumpur.)

Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado earlier told a Senate hearing that Guo entered Malaysia via a flight that landed on July 18 amid the investigation against her involving illegal POGOs.

The former mayor was caught in Indonesia and turned over to Philippine authorities on September 5.

Guo is facing a qualified human trafficking case before a Pasig court and a graft case before a Valenzuela court.

The dismissed mayor is also facing a tax evasion complaint, 87 counts for money laundering, and a perjury and falsification complaint before the Justice Department.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News