Marcos on Alice Guo's reported departure: 'Heads will roll'
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. did not mince words when he called out dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo for reportedly leaving the Philippines amid the investigation of crimes involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the area.
"The departure of Alice Guo has laid bare the corruption that undermines our justice system and erodes public trust," Marcos said in a statement posted on Facebook on Aug. 21.
The president then declared sternly: "LET ME BE CLEAR: Heads will roll."
He said they will "expose the culprits who have betrayed the people's trust and aided in her flight."
"A full-scale investigation is already underway, and those responsible will be suspended and will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Marcos said.
"There is no room in this government for anyone who places personal interest above serving the Filipino people with honor, integrity and justice," he added.
Guo's PH exit reported to International Police
The International Police has been alerted about Guo's reported departure from the Philippines.
During the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Wednesday, Hontiveros said she received information that the Department of Foreign Affairs has reported to the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime - Interpol for their appropriate action.
“The DFA, through the Office of Consular Affairs, took a precautionary measure to include Mayor Alice Guo and her family in the passports watchlist database,” she said. “What is the effect of including their passports in this database? This is to prevent the issuance of new passports to Mayor Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping and her family members.”
“At least the implication of that is it will not only be difficult (to go different places) but it will be totally prevented from using their Philippine passports,” she continued.
Last Aug. 19, Sen. Risa Hontiveros wrote a bombshell post on Facebook stating that Guo left the Philippines on the night of July 17 and arrived in Malaysia on July 18.
"Ayon sa aking isa pang source, tumuloy si Alice Guo sa Singapore, kung saan nag tagpo tagpo sila ng kanyang magulang na si Lin Wen Yi at Guo Jian Zhong," Hontiveros said. "The couple flew in from China on July 28, 2024. Mistulang reunion sila doon kasama si Wesley Guo at si Cassandra Ong."
But Guo's lawyer Stephen David said his client is still in the Philippines.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ordered the cancellation of the passports of the Guo family.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), meanwhile, said Guo is in Indonesia as of Aug. 20.
Supposed to return to the Philippines
The Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it received information that Guo was supposed to return to the Philippines from Singapore on Aug. 14.
CIDG Director Leo Francisco told reporters on Viber that their agents were deployed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to intercept Guo. However, the former local chief executive did not arrive.
She, however, apparently had a change of heart and didn't arrive.
It's unclear why Guo, who was supposedly with five other people, did not continue with her travel.
The NBI has started its probe to unmask the people who assisted Guo.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago vowed they will hold accountable individuals, particularly those from the government, who helped Guo evade an arrest order issued by the Senate.
“Kung nakalabas na, siguro merong ulong gugulong,” he said in an interview aired over GMA News' 24 Oras on Aug 20.
Santiago said Guo could not have left the country as all airports in the country are manned by government workers.
“Hindi dapat makalusot ng ganun na lang,” he said.
Guo was allegedly linked to two POGOs in Tarlac: Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated, which was raided in February 2023, and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which was raided in March this year. These were accused of trafficking and scams.
She was questioned as to why she was supposedly unaware of such alleged illegal activities. In past Senate hearings, she was also asked about her background to confirm her nationality, which she has since maintained that she's Filipino and has denied having ties to POGOs in Bamban and being a Chinese spy.
But as weeks passed, authorities discovered discrepancies in several documents involving Guo, as well as holes in her stories. These include documents alleging she's a Chinese national whose real name is Guo Hua Ping. The NBI also found that there's a third "Alice Guo" who applied for an NBI Clearance.
In July, the Senate issued arrest orders against Guo and seven others for skipping recent hearings on the raided POGO hubs in their place.
She’s also facing other complaints in line with alleged tax evasion and human trafficking. (with reports from Cecille M. Suerte and Emmanuel Tupas)