By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of charges against Sheila Guo, sister of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, and Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of the raided illegal Pogo hub in Porac, Tarlac.
In its recommendation issued on Tuesday, the DOJ-National Prosecution Service ordered that Sheila, alias Zhang Mier, be charged for disobedience to summons issued by the Senate and for using a false Philippine passport.
Ong was likewise approved to be charged with disobedience to a summons issued by the House of Representatives and for obstruction of justice for harboring, concealing, or facilitating the escape of a criminal offender.
Separate charges for falsification against the two were recommended to be remanded to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for case build-up and further investigation.
Sheila and Ong were repatriated to the country last week and remained under the custody of the NBI.
Guo appeared before the Senate on Tuesday and recounted how she, Alice, and their brother fled the country aboard several sea vessels.
Sheila also revealed that she moved to the Philippines in her teens and she is not a biological sister of Alice.
BI: Alice Guo in Jakarta
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the dismissed mayor is in Jakarta, based on information provided by its Indonesian counterpart.
In a television interview Wednesday, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Guo transferred to Jakarta when she parted ways with Sheila in the Indonesian city of Batam.
“Naghiwa-hiwalay po sila at balak sana nila na bumalik ng Singapore kung saan meron silang kakilala doon, kakutsaba, nag-assist sa kanila while they are in Singapore,” Sandoval said.
She also said it would not take long before the dismissed mayor’s whereabouts would be known.
“Mukhang lumiliit na ang mundo ni Alice. Of course, limited din ang time natin. Kung hindi po ako nagkakamali 30 days ang ating allowed stay in Indonesia, and if she is not able to depart that country by that time, dagdag pa ‘yan sa rason para hulihin at i-deport po siya ng Indonesian immigration,” Sandoval said.
She said their Indonesian counterparts have been informed that Guo is considered an illegal alien because of the charges she is facing in the Philippines.
Sandoval, meanwhile, said they already have information on those who helped Guo and her companions flee the country.
She, however, said “it would be best for the DOJ to reveal this information.” (with report from Ferdinand Patinio)