Lawmakers looking forward to grill Guo in congressional probes

IN CUSTODY. Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo shows a photo of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo while in custody of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri during a media briefing at Camp Crame on Wednesday (Sept. 4, 2024). Guo was arrested by Indonesian authorities in Tangerang City, Jakarta Tuesday evening (Sept. 3). (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Lawmakers on Wednesday expressed high hopes that the arrest of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo in Indonesia would lead to her eventual appearance in various congressional probes being conducted by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Guo was arrested in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia close to midnight on Tuesday, and is currently in the custody of the Indonesian Police at Jatanras Mabes Polri.

In a statement, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said her arrest would hopefully lead to the success of the ongoing investigation into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs).

“She can now be brought to justice and, hopefully, also shed light on illegal POGO operations in the country,” Escudero said.

In a separate statement, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros congratulated Philippine and Indonesian law enforcement authorities and thanked everyone who had contributed to Guo’s arrest.

“Inaasahan ko ang pagharap ni Guo Hua Ping sa hearing ng Senado sa lalong madaling panahon (I am expecting her presence in the Senate hearing as soon as possible). We appreciate the commitment of the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to turn her over to the Senate after she is processed,” she said.

It is time for Guo to face the charges filed against her here in the Philippines, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said

“Dahil nahuli na siya, dapat managot siya sa mga kasong isinampa laban sa kanya kagaya ng human trafficking, money laundering, quo warranto, paglabag sa utos ng Senado at iba pa (Since she has been arrested, she must be held accountable for the charges filed against her such as human trafficking, money laundering, quo warranto, violation of the order of the Senate, among others),” Gatchalian said in a message to reporters.

He said Guo should answer all the questions and reveal the names involved in the illegal activities of POGOs, including government officials abetting the criminal activities, for the proper filing of cases against them.

Over at the House of Representatives, Quezon 3rd District Rep. Reynan Arrogancia said he and his colleagues at the Quad committee were looking forward to confronting Guo in a public hearing, which would help strengthen the criminal cases against her.

The Quad-committee, composed of the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Accounts, Public Order and Safety, and Human Rights, is investigating the connections among the POGOs, illegal drug trade, and extrajudicial killings.

“The Quadcomm will not stop until we have unmasked all the significant players in these illegal POGOs, human trafficking, and illegal drugs,” said Arrogancia, the vice chair of the Committee on Public Order and Safety.

“Thereafter, it will be up to the DOJ to prosecute until they are convicted and incarcerated.”

Deportation case readied

Aside from charges before local courts, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Guo would face a deportation case once she arrives in the country.

“She is the subject of a mission order way back because of the information that we got about her fraudulent acquisition of Filipino citizenship documents and for being an undesirable alien.

Her presence here in the Philippines has caused so much chaos,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing Wednesday.

Sandoval, however, said that even if Guo’s case is resolved early, all other cases against her must be resolved first before she could be deported.

The BI official added that the dismissed mayor would undergo the same process her sister Shiela Leal Guo and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) incorporator Cassandra Li Ong had undergone when they arrived in the country.

Shiela and Ong were arrested in Indonesia last month.