Alice Guo's sister facing deportation case; DOJ explains basis of arrest

Shiela Guo, the sister of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, is now facing a deportation case after she was arrested in Indonesia and was brought back to the Philippines.

Shiela was apprehended along with Cassandra Li Ong, who is one of the key persons who could help the government in investigating the illegal operations of Lucky South 99 company in Porac, Pampanga.

In a joint press conference held by the Department of Justice (DOJ) together with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), it was announced that Shiela is being charged with the deportation case for "undesirability" and "misrepresentation."

"We already conducted an inquest on Shiela Guo for immigration violations, and the charge is on the misrepresentation as a Filipino citizen," said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

According to the BI, a Chinese passport was also seized from the former Bamban mayor’s sister that contained a different name. The passport also showed a different birth date from her Philippine records.

Because of this, the bureau suspected that Shiela acquired the document through "fraudulent" means. They also regard her as a threat to the country's security, public safety, public interest, and national security, which is why they want to deport her.

"We turned over Shiela to NBI for possible criminal charges also sa Philippine laws violation naman," Tasingco added.

Ong, on the other hand, used a Philippine passport in her travel so she won't be charged with any immigration violations. Her basis for arrest, however, was due to several alleged crimes filed before the NBI.

"So far, sa tingin namin, Filipino itong si Cassandra Ong kaya pagdating niya, inaresto siya ng NBI sa paglabag sa iba-ibang criminal law. Kasama na diyan 'yung obstruction of justice, violation of passport act, at criminal provision ng Immigration Act," DOJ undersecretary Nicholas Ty said.

Tansingco explained that Shiela and Ong were were quickly captured in Indonesia as the bureau immediately contacted authorities in the country and requested them to take custody of the invididuals.

"We were informed na nasa custody na sila, we requested [to personally] fetch them kaya tayo nagpadala noon ng mga agents natin," Tansingco said.

Despite the charges, the DOJ said both Shiela and Ong can still request for bail. The agency stated that Ong's current cases are not that severe, but there will be an opportunity to file stronger complaints against her in the future.

"'Yung mga kasong inireklamo ng NBI laban kay Cassy Ong, bailable ito. Hindi ganun kalakas ito. Daan pa siya sa inquest, hindi pa tayo sigurado kung aabot sa korte 'yung kaso niya. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na hindi umuusad 'yung ibang kaso niya, 'yung mas mabibigat na kaso. Sa tamang panahon, maisasampa 'yung kaso laban sa kanya. Warrantless arrest ito kaya limitado lang ang pwedeng isampa laban sa kanya," Ty said.

"Dito sa paghawak ng Immigration sa kanya (Shiela Guo) indefinite yan, maaari siyang huminging bail dito sa BI pero iba 'yang bail na 'yan, sa bail sa criminal na kaso. Sa criminal na kaso, as a matter of rights 'yan. Dito sa mga immigration cases, nasa board of commissioners kung pagbibigyan siya ng bail," he added.

The three agencies will continue with their investigations and promised to update the public as new developments come in line with the matter.

This comes amid the Senate probe on Alice's alleged ties to POGOs in her bailiwick: Hongsheng Gaming Technology Incorporated, which was raided in February 2023, and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, which was raided in March this year. 

Earlier this month, Sen. Risa Hontiveros reported that Alice, along with her siblings and Cassandra Ong, left the Philippines in July. On Aug. 22, Shiela and Ong were brought back to the country after they were arrested by the Indonesian authorities in a mall in Batam City. Alice and her brother, Wesley, are yet to be located by the authorities. 

The Malacañang ordered the cancellation of their Philippine passports, as per the New Philippine Passport Act which states that a Department of Foreign Affairs secretary may cancel a passport in the interest of national security.