Guo in Pasig jail, undergoes TB test due to ‘lung infection’

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Alice Guo testifies before the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Sept. 9, 2024. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo has been transferred to the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory on Monday.

In an ambush interview at the Pasig City Jail, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Guo was officially transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) around 9:33 a.m., in compliance with the commitment order issued by the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) where she is facing trial for qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable case.

“As a matter of procedure before turning her over to BJMP she underwent the required medical and physical examination conducted by the PNP General Hospital and the Forensic Group. During the medical examination, the doctor found a probable infection in her left lung. So the BJMP upon receiving Alice Guo will now have the disposition to treat this possible infection,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo said Guo was experiencing cough and colds before her transfer to the Pasig City Jail.

She said Guo’s lung infection might have developed over the weekend.

Guo was supposed to be transferred to the Pasig City Jail from the PNP Custodial Center on Sept. 20 but it was deferred to Monday, as the PNP had to return the arrest warrant for the qualified human trafficking she is facing before a Pasig City court.

Fajardo said the PNP is now closely coordinating with the Department of Justice about the motion filed by Guo’s lawyer for her to remain at the PNP Custodial Center.

“We expect that the prosecutor will file an official opposition to the urgent motion for Alice Guo to be detained at PNP Custodial Center but we are still waiting when this will be filed officially. Since we already officially transferred her this morning, we will see what would be the ruling of the court since we already turned her over before the BJMP,” she added.

In isolation

Meanwhile, BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Joseph Bustinera said since Guo was found to be suffering from a possible lung infection, she will be in isolation for a few days.

Guo will join three other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) suffering from tuberculosis (TB) in an isolation area that has a size of 10 sq. meters.

“The medical result was confirmed and we recommended to our Health Service to isolate her,” Bustinera said in a separate interview.

The result of Guo’s TB test is expected to be out within Monday, he added.

Guo was carrying a yellow shirt, jogging pants, and personal hygiene kit when she was transferred to the Pasig City Jail.

Once Guo is cleared for the lung infection, Bustinera said she would be immediately transferred to the common jail facilities.

“We had special arrangement for security. We provided additional personnel. We tightened our security because of her. The BJMP assures her safety and security,” Bustinera said.

He said the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory currently houses 135 detainees, way above its capacity of 36 PDLs.

7 co-conspirators nabbed

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced the arrest of seven alleged co-conspirators of Guo in operations over the weekend.

In a statement, the NBI identified the individuals as Roderic Puajante, Juan Alpas, Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon, Jamielyn Cruz, Rita Uyturralde, Rowena Evangelista, and Thelma Requiro.

Warrants of arrest were served on Sept. 22 in connection with the qualified human trafficking charges filed against Guo and others before the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC), the NBI reported.

The operations were undertaken by elements of the NBI’s Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCS), Intellectual Property Right Division (NBI-IPRD), Counter Terrorism Division (NBI-CTD), and the Tarlac Division Office (NBI-TARDO) and Central Luzon Office (NBI-CELRO). (With a report from Benjamin Pulta/PNA)