MANILA (UPDATED) – An aide of dismissed mayor Alice Guo appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday to face allegations that she deliberately misled authorities in their search for the former mayor last July. 

Investigators are looking into whether aide Catherine Salazar appeared in the ex-mayor's place when a lawyer notarized Guo's counter-affidavit even when she was already supposedly out of the country, NBI Assistant Director Atty. Lito Magno said. 

A recent Senate hearing found that Salazar was supposedly responsible for finding the notary. 

Guo says she knows lawyer in doubtful notarization 

"Makakatulong siya sa ginagawa nating pag-iimbestiga particularly sa backtracking natin, kung talaga bang yung alegasyon na gumagamit ng double si Mayor Alice ay mapapatunayan natin kung totoo o hindi," Magno said. 

Salazar has long black hair and wore glasses when she appeared before the NBI. 

Before her escape from the Philippines in July, the bespectacled Guo also wore her dark hair long. 

Guo sported a shorter hairstyle when she was eventually arrested by authorities in Indonesia in early September. 

The former mayor has denied that she is a Chinese national who allegedly facilitated the entry of an illegal gambling hub in her town. 

QUALIFIED HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel prosecutors on Friday recommended the filing of qualified human trafficking charges against Guo and several others.

In a press conference, DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said a resolution authorizes the filing of qualified human trafficking charges before the Capaz, Tarlac regional trial court (RTC) because of “prima facie evidence of reasonable certainty of conviction” found during their preliminary investigation.

“May prima facie evidence for qualified trafficking in persons. Lumabas na yung information at ifa-file namin next week sa korte yung information na ‘to,” Ty said.

“Nais namin magpasalamat sa prosecution panel na pinaghirapan ang pagpasiya sa preliminary investigation, napaka kumplikado ng kasong ito at kung makikita nyo, napaka-kapal ng resolution at napakaraming detalye,” he added.

Ty cited the latest amendment to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act as the basis of the recommendation.

“May napakagandang bagong provision dun sa latest amendment ng ating Trafficking in Persons Act noh yung Section 4(L), nakalagay dun sa Section 4(L) na acts of human trafficking. At nakalagay dun if you organize an establishment that engage in human trafficking, maaari kang madawit for human trafficking. So yung dipensa ni Mayor Alice Guo at iba pang mga respondents na hindi naman sila yung nag recruit, ‘di sila yung nanakit, ‘di sila nag torture o kung ano man na biktima ng human trafficking, hindi na uubra yan sa bagong batas natin,” he said.

“Basta mapakita na may kinalaman ka sa pagtayo, sa pag-organize ng isang negosyo o ng isang kumpanya na nadawit yung human trafficking, maaari kang makasuhan ng human trafficking,” he added.

Ty said charges will also be filed against former Technology Resource Center chief Dennis Cunanan, as well as Chinese incorporators Huang Zhiyang, Baoying Lin, and Zhang Ruijin.

“Si Huang Zhiyang kasama sa mga nadawit dito sa qualified trafficking in persons.

“Hindi muna namin sasabihin lahat dahil may risk noh. Baka may flight risk kung malaman nila na kasama sila sa mga nakasuhan, at hindi pa sila kasama dun sa ILBO na inissue ni Secretary Remulla sa BI,” he said.

Meanwhile, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission spokesperson Winston Casio said the involvement of the said Chinese incorporators has played a part in enabling organized criminal acts in the Bamban POGO hub, making them liable too.

“Remember itong mga taong sinama natin sa AMLC, sila Huang Zhiyang, Zhang Ruijin, Baoying Lin, these are people who are notorious for scamming and money laundering. Again, the crimes that are allegedly committed by Alice Guo would not had happened if these people did not enable her through their finances. Very important makasuhan din sila,” he said.

Guo camp files counter-affidavit on Comelec 'misrepresentation' case
Alice Guo's lawyer renews her appeal for Senate executive session
Ex-Bamban mayor who endorsed Guo speaks up: 'Hindi kami masyadong close'

-- Reports from Niko Baua, Nicole Agcaoili; ABS-CBN News