By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The arrest of the two companions of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo will be a “big help” in determining her location, Department of the Interior and Local Government Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr. said Friday.
Abalos made the remarks following the return of Guo’s sister, Sheila, and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) representative Cassandra Li Ong to the Philippines on Thursday.
“Malaking bagay ’yon dahil kahit papaano, of course, ’yong information makukuha sa kanila. Ang importante dito ay hindi tayo titigil maghanap,” Abalos told reporters on the sidelines of the Local Governance Summit 2024 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
Abalos said the manhunt for Guo continues, adding that the Philippine government is coordinating with concerned parties within and outside the Philippines to locate the dismissed mayor.
He refused to divulge additional details since the manhunt operation is still ongoing.
He, however, expressed confidence that Guo would be sent back to the Philippines soon.
“Pero huwag pong mag-alala ang ating mga kababayan. Tuloy-tuloy, of course, ang paghahanap po kay Alice Guo, kung siya man ay nasa Pilipinas o nasa ibang bansa. Tuloy-tuloy po ito at iko-coordinate natin sa iba’t ibang mga bansa,” Abalos said.
“We’d like to assure you na talagang ginagawa na lahat upang mahuli po. Kung ano po ang ginawa kay Shiela at kay Cassandra, ’yon din po ang kakasahin,” he added.
Sheila Guo and Ong were apprehended at the Mega Mall Batam Center in Riau, Indonesia on August 20, but Alice Guo was not with them.
The two were brought to the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) main office in Manila for medical examination and inquest.
Senate prepares for Sheila Guo, Ong
Meanwhile, the Senate is ready to receive Ong and Sheila Guo for the scheduled hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice on Aug. 27.
“The Senate is looking forward to their presence in the proceedings. The hearings will provide an opportunity for Guo and Ong to present their statement and contribute to the ongoing discussions and investigation,” Senate spokesperson Arnel Jose Bañas said in a statement.
Bañas said the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms got the assurance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they will be made available for the hearings and will be responsible for bringing them to and from the Senate.
The duo will be turned over to the Senate after the inquest proceedings by the Department of Justice (DOJ) which is expected to be finished before the day of the hearing.
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said that based on procedure, Sheila Guo should be detained in the Senate after being cited for contempt.
Gatchalian, in a virtual press conference, said he has a pending motion to also cite Ong in contempt.
The senator is expecting to uncover how deep the relation Ong has to the Guo family and how the raided illegal POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga operate.
Gatchalian also believes that “it’s just a matter of time” that Alice Guo will be apprehended by authorities and sent back to the Philippines to face the charges filed against her and the Senate investigation.
Inquest proceedings
Meanwhile, Ong and Sheila Guo underwent inquest proceedings on Friday for criminal charges of obstruction of justice and violation of the New Philippine Passport Act in connection with the allegedly fraudulent procurement of passports.
In a press briefing, NBI chief Jaime Santiago and BI chief Norman Tansingco said the two returnees face charges of misrepresentation due to their applying for Philippine passports where they claimed to be Filipino citizens.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said it will now be up to prosecutors assigned to the case to determine whether there is enough evidence to file a case before the courts.
The two will remain under NBI custody at least until Tuesday next week when courts reopen after the back-to-back holidays this weekend.
Santiago said lawyer Elmer Galicia who notarized the counter-affidavit filed by Guo’s lawyers before DOJ prosecutors earlier this month may be held administratively liable if it is proven that Guo did not personally appear before him while he signed the former mayor’s sworn statement.
“Aside from administrative liability where he could lose his license as a lawyer, he may possibly be held liable for perjury,” Santiago said. (With reports from Wilnard Bacelonia and Benjamin Pulta)