By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed on Wednesday that “heads will roll” as he ordered a full-scale investigation on the reported departure of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.
In a statement, Marcos said those who will be found accountable for Guo’s escape will be sanctioned “to the full extent of the law.”
“The departure of Alice Guo has laid bare the corruption that undermines our justice system and erodes public trust,” he stated.
“There is no room in this government for anyone who places personal interest above serving the Filipino people with honor, integrity and justice,” the Chief Executive added.
The Office of the President (OP) had also directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the Philippine passports of Guo, of her kin Wesley and Sheila Guo, and of Lucky South 99 authorized representative Katherine Cassandra Li Ong.
In a memorandum dated August 20, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin cited Republic Act No. 11983 or the New Philippine Passport Act which allows the DFA Secretary to cancel a passport in the interest of national security.
“Under the same law, one of the grounds for the cancellation of a Philippine passport is when the court issues an order for its cancellation as the holder is a fugitive from justice,” Bersamin said.
DOJ Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla, likewise, warned Immigration personnel who have had a hand in Guo’s departure to come out and tell the truth or “heads will roll and all hell will break loose.”
“In addition, we will also delve into the possibility that the camp or legal counsels of the embattled ex-mayor may have had a hand in her slippery exit from the Philippines so let me reiterate that as much as lawyers have an obligation to protect the interests of their clients, they also have a broader responsibility to uphold the rule of law and safeguard public interest,” Remulla stated.
To recall, Sen. Risa Hontiveros revealed on Monday that Guo flew out of the country last July 18 and traveled to Malaysia, despite being the subject of an immigration lookout bulletin due to the ongoing investigations into the former mayor’s link to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) also said Guo may have left the country without passing through the required checks of Philippine immigration authorities. From Singapore, Guo’s group went to Indonesia on August 18.
“May nakikita po tayo na mga individual na nahuhuli natin sa mga paliparan, na may mga gano’n po, mga peke na stamp na pinagawa lang nila sa kung saan para gamitin po, para kunwari tapos na sila sa clearance,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in an interview during the Punto Asintado program on Tuesday.
“At mukhang inabuso po nitong si [dismissed] mayor Alice Guo ’yong mga area kung saan wala pong Immigration presence,” Sandoval continued, adding that Guo may have used private air strips or traveled by sea. (with report from Louisa Erispe/PTV News)