An alleged sighting of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo at an airport on July 21, 2024. PAOCC handout

MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday pointed to the possible involvement of some Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel in "assisting" dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo's "illegal" exit from the Philippines, citing an alleged "modus" of some erring officials.

The scandal-wracked bureau was the subject of a Senate investigation in 2020 for escorting Chinese visitors through screening in exchange for money. It has also been criticized for seeming to be too strict with Filipinos getting on international flights. 

• Alice Guo arrested in Indonesia

“Nagpupuslit papasok parang 'pastillas gang' at nagpupuslit sila palabas. Kaya alam natin meron talagang gumagawa niyan sa immigration, yun ang ating titingnan,” Remulla said, referring to the 2020 scheme.

(They sneak people in, like what the 'pastillas gang' did and they sneak people out. We know that people at immigration do that, so we will look into it.)

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were finalizing arrangements for Guo’s return.  

Marcos, who earlier vowed that “heads will roll” after Guo’s departure from the Philippines, refused to disclose details on who would be held responsible for her escape. 

“You'll find out soon enough,” he told reporters.

“All of those who are implicated in assisting Alice Guo to leave the Philippines illegally as a fugitive from justice will certainly pay the price. Ang tanong niyo, sino sisibakin? Hindi lang namin sila sisibakin, kakasuhan pa namin sila dahil ang kanilang ginawa ay labag sa batas at against all of the interests of the Philippine judicial system,” Marcos said.

Immigration officials have said Alice Guo and her supposed siblings Shiela and Wesley did not leave the country through the usual ports.

Shiela Guo also told a Senate hearing that her group left the Philippines through a series of boat trips until they got to Malaysia.

• TIMELINE: Alice Guo's secret escape from PH and arrest in Indonesia 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it was coordinating with the immigration bureau for their investigation on how Guo left the country.     

“But like we said early on na there is a possibility talagang umalis yan through backdoor dahil kung through immigration, customs sa ports and even sa airport alam niya na ma-flag down siya doon dahil nasa immigration lookout bulletin order,” PNP spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo said. 

IMMIGRATION CHIEF CHIDED 

But Remulla chided BI chief Norman Tansingco for allegedly failing to notify the DOJ on the developments in the hunt for Guo and other individuals involved in illegal POGO activities.

• Anyare sa intel funds?: Senator confronts PNP, NBI, BI over Alice Guo escape

Tansingco earlier said he received information that Guo had escaped but waited for confirmation before sharing the report. 

“Kaya hindi na kami nag-uusap. Hindi tama iyong ganong klaseng asal na hindi mo ipapaalam sa DOJ secretary yung nangyayari sa opisina mo,” Remulla said.

(That is why we no longer talk. It was wrong of him not to inform the DOJ secretary of developments in his agency)

• Alice Guo expected to return to PH on Thursday or Friday: NBI

Remulla also reiterated that Guo is facing complaints involving various government agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Solicitor General.

At the DOJ, three complaints against Guo are being handled by prosecutors: qualified human trafficking, tax evasion, and money laundering.

• Alice Guo, Cassandra Ong, 34 others face money laundering raps

Remulla said the first complaint filed, human trafficking, may be resolved by the panel of prosecutors by Friday.

Guo was arrested by Indonesian authorities on late Tuesday night in Tangerang City over a month since her alleged escape from the Philippines in the early weeks of July.

ARREST, DEPORTATION 

Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities considered former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo an "illegal alien", which served as a basis of her arrest, said Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval. 

Speaking to PTV4's Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, Sandoval said Guo was arrested by authorities due to double documentation.

"Tinuring na syang illegal alien ng Indonesia authorities, nagpadala tayo ng information na sya ay wanted, may arrest warrant na pending, that she has double documents, identities pero hindi tugma yung 2 documentation na yon," Sandoval said.

(She was considered an illegal alien by Indonesian authorities, and we sent them information she has an arrest warrant and double documents and identities that don't match.)

"[She's] both Chinese and Filipino na sa tingin namin fraudulently acquired," she added.

(She's both Chinese and Filipino, which we think she has fraudulently acquired.)

Guo was arrested in a hotel in Indonesia at around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, still wearing pajamas. 

"Dun sa information natin, wala po s'yang kasama nang s'ya ay maaresto," Sandoval said.

(Based on our information, she was alone when she was arrested.)

Sandoval said details were being ironed out as to when Guo would be flown back to the Philippines. 

She said the former mayor would undergo similar procedures with like Shiela Guo and Cassandra Ong when they got back to the country two weeks ago.

This means Guo will proceed to the Bureau of Immigration for booking procedures before being turned over to the Senate.

Sandoval said aside from local cases, Guo would face a deportation case from the BI.

Guo's brother Wesley Guo is still at large.

Sandoval said they believe Wesley Guo is still inside Indonesia as there is no information if he attempted to leave the country. She added there is no confirmation to rumors that Wesley went to Hong Kong.  

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